Religious leaders want abolition of pork barrel
ILOILO CITY , Philippines — It started with the ringing of bells and the blowing of horns. At least 2,000 people staged the Jericho March around this city yesterday afternoon to protest against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
The Jericho March was spearheaded by interfaith leaders from the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Jesus is Lord Movement and Muslim groups. Other sectors and organizations under Bayan-Panay also participated in the protest rally.
From Jaro Cathedral, the Jericho March passed through St. Clement's Church in La Paz district of this city, then to Plazoletagay and Iloilo Capitol where they held the program proper.
While at St. Clement's Church, religious and sectoral leaders signed a manifesto against PDAF, demanding for its abolition.
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, who also led the activity, raised a placard with a statement "Abolish Pork Barrel Now!" as his message to the people in Panay and made a silent prayer.
Jericho was a biblical city of the anti-Christ people, and this was similar to the PDAF today as being an anti-Christ action, thus the religious groups marched to destroy it.
"Just like in those times, there was blowing of horns and marching to destroy the city of Jericho. This time, there was also blowing of horns and marching to destroy or abolish PDAF," according to religious leaders in the rally. (FREEMAN)
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