MANILA – October 2, 2013 – Following the successful Million People March held on National Heroes’ Day, the Million People March @ Ayala (MPM@Ayala) is scheduled on October 4 at Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas.
The rally calls for a swifter prosecution of all involved in various pork scandals, and demands for the government to account for spent pork.
"Heightened protests are necessary because the legislative and executive departments have merely tried to sugarcoat the pork barrel system under different schemes of accommodation," Peachy Rallonza-Bretaña, initiator of the Million People March at Luneta last August 26, said in a press release issued by the #ScrapPork Network.
To be launched at MPM@Ayala, #ScrapPork Network is composed of coordinators of the Luneta march as well as other groups, individuals, and coalitions that have united against pork. A citizen-based monitoring and audit program will also be launched at the event.
Unlike the August 26 march, the October 4 march will have an organized program, where speakers will discuss how pork remains in the country’s budget being crafted by Congress, as well as in executive department funds.
Apart from the discussions and the presentation of concrete demands to the different departments of government, there will be performances by Bayang Barios, Lolita Carbon, and Cookie Chua.
Assembly time is at 3 p.m., and the program starts at 5.30 p.m. According to MPM@Ayala spokesperson Patricia Tan, the time was set to accommodate workers from the financial district, as well as students and residents of other cities.
"Time to show once more how united we are vs Pork Barrel!" read The Million People March to Scrap Pork Barrel Facebook page, which was created on August 22. Those on social media were encouraged to use the hashtags #ScrapPork and #MillionPeopleMarch
In a statement, the #ScrapPork Network called for the scrapping of the pork barrel system, as well as the continued discourse on the best alternative to take its place.
The network also challenged government officials to account for all pork spent, and to investigate and punish those who misused the discretionary funds.
"We must continue letting our voices be heard until the guilty are convicted with finality and jailed, to serve as examples to those who may want to follow in their footsteps, that public money must be used solely and exclusively for the benefit and in the best interests of the Filipino people," the statement said.
