RYAN LEAGOGO/黑料社
MANILA, Philippines鈥擜mid conflicting figures given by the police and protest organizers, participants of the first anniversary of the Million People March dipped to 20,000 at most compared to last year鈥檚 mass action.
Bagong听Alyansang听Ma鈥巏abayan听(Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said around 20,000 protesters joined听鈥巘he multi-sectoral听rally that launched the People鈥檚 Initiative signature campaign against pork barrel system in Metro Manila on Monday.
The Million People March on August 26, 2013, which also coincided with the National Heroes鈥� Day, had a turnout of about 85,000 to 100,000 participants.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore听Sindac, Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office chief, however, said that the Rizal Park crowd swelled up to only 5,000.
But as of posting time, police said the number of听rallyists听鈥渄ecreased to more or less 4,500鈥� while the program and signature campaign was still ongoing.
鈥嶢mong those who joined the rally were听the #abolishpork听movement, the Scrap Pork Network, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the judiciary employees, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), the groups under听Bagong听Alyansang听Makabayan听(Bayan), LGBT groups, artists, former beauty queens, students from various schools, bishops and civil groups.
鈥嶥uring the rally, several personalities, including Mae听Paner,听鈥巃 former supporter of President听Benigno听Aquino III, educated the participants about the initiative and at the same time, encouraged them to be counted in the campaign.
鈥淏allpen听at听pirma听niyo听lang听ang听鈥巏ailangan听para听mabago听ang听sistema,鈥澨齈aner, dressed up as her听popular character Juana Change鈥�, told the audience.
(All we need are your pens and signatures to change the system.)
She also recalled being a 鈥測ellow supporter鈥� of the President and even campaigning for him before Aquino was elected as the country鈥檚 highest official.
Last听August 23, anti-pork groups converged in Cebu City during the People鈥檚 Congress approving the draft bill. It was also there where the signature campaign was initially launched.
RELATED STORIES