‘Pork’ protest rally today

Security measures are now all set for the more than one million people who are expected to flock today to the Luneta Park in Manila as a show of public indignation against the alleged wanton spending of people’s money through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the pork barrel system.

 

Close to 500 policemen were deployed in the vicinity of Luneta in Manila as early as yesterday. More cops are expected to be deployed today to manage traffic on all roads leading to the rally site, said Senior Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“This is on top of the standby forces that will immediately be tapped in any eventuality,” Sindac told the Manila Bulletin in an interview.

 

PREPARING FOR TODAY’S BIG EVENT – Working beside the statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz at the Rizal Park on Aug. 25, 2013, activists prepare one of the tarpaulins to be used in today’s ‘Martsa sa Luneta’ against the congressional pork barrel. Inset, members of the militant group Bayan pose with the masks they will be wearing in today’s rally.

The Manila Police District (MPD) has already placed its entire unit under its highest security alert status on Saturday as part of the security measures.

To maximize the security coverage, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) hoisted heightened alert status as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

 

Full alert status means all police units are not allowed to go on dayoff or leave of absence, with the special instruction to maximize police visibility and intelligence-gathering. Heightened alert means at least 50 percent of the police officers must be at their posts.

 

Sindac was quick to clarify that the police deployment should not be interpreted in a negative way, saying the policemen will just be there to ensure the safety of protesters from pickpockets, thieves, and other street criminals.

Sindac stressed that no policemen must participate in the “Martsa sa Luneta,” noting that it is prohibited under civil service rules.

 

“The policemen’s presence must be limited to providing security to those who will participate,” said Sindac.

The official also clarified that there has never been an order or a go-signal given by the police leadership that off-duty cops could participate.

 

“We should just stick to our mandate, that is to ensure public safety, to serve and protect the public,” said Sindac.

Today’s Martsa sa Luneta coincides with National Heroes’ Day, which rallyists say is a symbolic day of correcting the misuse of people’s money that starts, they say, with the abolition of the pork barrel system.

 

MMDA Role

For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy about 350 personnel, including traffic enforcers, first aid and rescue responders and street sweepers for the “Million People March.”

 

MMDA Assistant General for Operations Emerson Carlos said they will also implement a traffic re-routing plan on major thoroughfares including Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, Kalaw and P. Burgos streets.

 

“Portions of Roxas Boulevard between Kalaw, P.Burgos and Katigbak would be closed to vehicular traffic hours before the rally starts,” Carlos said.

He said the MMDA will assist the authorities in supervising security preparations at the Luneta, in coordination with the city government of Manila, particularly the local traffic bureau, and the NCRPO.

 

He appealed to rally participants not to bring their children and important valuables to the gathering.

 

Since the Million People March event was conceived in the social media last Aug. 17, thousands have signified their intention to join the protest action against the congressional pork barrel despite Malacanang’s announcement last Friday that it would be abolished.

 

Simultaneous protest actions will also be held in key cities of the country such as in Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan De Oro, Dagupan, and Puerto Princesa.

 

PISTON Joins Protest

The militant transport group Pinagkaisahang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (PISTON) will join protesters today to call for the unconditional abolition of the PDAF.

According to PISTON National President George San Mateo, drivers are the ones directly affected by the pork barrel scam from the value-added tax (VAT) taken from fuel which they use everyday.

 

“We drivers and operators of public transportation are one of the biggest sources of the 12 percent VAT on oil. We buy diesel, gasoline and auto-LPG to run our vehicles daily,” he said.

San Mateo said tax collected from the earnings of public transport drivers and operators through oil purchase is estimated to reach around P2 billion per month.

 

“Many drivers would drive almost 18 hours daily but are still not earning enough. Then, we learned that all the taxes collected end up in a corrupt pork barrel system. It’s disgusting and unjust on our part,” San Mateo said.

PISTON members and other militant groups under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) will converge at the Liwasang Bonifacio at 9 a.m. and head towards Rizal Park at 10 a.m.