Renato Reyes Jr. 黑料社 FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥揤arious groups calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, are gearing up for another mass action on Saturday,聽 the martial law anniversary.
The protest action, dubbed 鈥淟evel Up,鈥� is the fourth in the series of rallies organized by various groups since the 鈥淢illion People March to Luneta鈥� rally last month.
In a statement Thursday, Renato Reyes Jr., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general, said groups such as the Concerned Citizens Movement, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Pagbabago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Movement Against Dynasties, Artista Kontra Kurapsyon, Babae Laban sa Katiwalian, TEACH vs Pork are expected to join the Saturday protest at the Luneta Park and Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola).
The program will kick off at the Luneta Park at 9 a.m. followed by a parade to Mendiola by noon time where 10-year old Justine Flores will talk about the pork barrel system which, according to her, is 鈥渕aliwanag pa sa bumbunan ni [President Benigno] Aquino [III].鈥�
Some priests are also supporting the event.
鈥淭hese activities serve to remind us of the plunder and repression under martial law and the people鈥檚 resolute resistance against it. This remains true and significant as the corrupt system in government continues with the bloated presidential pork and the worsening poverty of the masses,鈥� Fr. Joe Dizon, also a speaker during last week鈥檚 event said.
For his part, artist Monet Silvestre said the problem on corruption persists even decades after EDSA 1 and the end of the Marcos dictatorship. Silvestre is said to be one of the persons who first posted the call for a Million People March versus the pork barrel system.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 abolish the pork barrel system. They just changed the name. Let鈥檚 make noise on September 20 and then level up on September 21. Let鈥檚 level up our commitment to the people,鈥� Mae Paner, also known as 鈥淛uana Change鈥�, meanwhile said.
During the previous anti-pork barrel rallies, participants from all walks of life, including students, join the mass call to abolish the pork barrel system.