This was the dominant call of tens of thousands of white-clad Filipinos who gathered in Manila on Monday to stage a social media-driven protest against the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds—the largest mass action during President Benigno Aquino III's administration.
Occasional rainshowers did not stop families, couples, group of friends, students, religious and political organizations from trooping to the muddy grounds of the Quirino Grandstand to call for the total scrapping of the pork barrel fund.
Seen at the rally were various personalities and groups that have been at loggerheads on other issues, showing how this issue has tapped into a common nerve and bridged political divides.
Sister Sofia from the Sienna College in Quezon City decided to spend her Monday morning in the protest action instead of the convent to call for the proper spending of public funds.
"We really wanted to be here. We wanted to be counted among the people with the same sentiments. We would like the resources of the government to be used properly, especially for the poor," she said in an interview.
Judith Salvacion, a third year high school student from the St. Scholastica's College, meanwhile said that she decided to forego of her long weekend to join the call to prosecute individuals who pocketed public funds.
Occasional rainshowers did not stop families, couples, group of friends, students, religious and political organizations from trooping to the muddy grounds of the Quirino Grandstand to call for the total scrapping of the pork barrel fund.
Seen at the rally were various personalities and groups that have been at loggerheads on other issues, showing how this issue has tapped into a common nerve and bridged political divides.
Sister Sofia from the Sienna College in Quezon City decided to spend her Monday morning in the protest action instead of the convent to call for the proper spending of public funds.
"We really wanted to be here. We wanted to be counted among the people with the same sentiments. We would like the resources of the government to be used properly, especially for the poor," she said in an interview.
Judith Salvacion, a third year high school student from the St. Scholastica's College, meanwhile said that she decided to forego of her long weekend to join the call to prosecute individuals who pocketed public funds.
"Unahin po ang Pilipinas bago ang bakasyon. Para ho sa kinabukasan namin ito," Salvacion said in a separate interview.
Million March
Million March
The Facebook page which initiated the mass action described the event as a "massive pocket picnic get together" of Filipino taxpayers to demand the scrapping of the pork barrel, and the prosecution of lawmakers involved in misuse of these funds.
.
The protest action, dubbed the "Million People March," pushed through despite Aquino's call on Friday to abolish the pork barrel – a change in his earlier stance to retain and reform these controversial discretionary funds. Aquino won the presidency in 2010 with an anti-corruption platform.
The mass action was staged at the Quirino Grandstand on National Heroes' Day, a nationwide non-working holiday. The event did not have formal leaders, but various groups, including religious and activist organizations, already earlier expressed their intention to join to protest.
As of Monday morning, over 20,000 people had confirmed their attendance on its event page on Facebook, although the event is targeting one million attendees.
As of Monday morning, over 20,000 people had confirmed their attendance on its event page on Facebook, although the event is targeting one million attendees.
Not angry
The mood in the area was more jovial than angry, with various groups staging pocket protests through dressing up and singing protest songs. Some families even ate their lunch on the ground while the mass action was ongoing.
"Hindi kami galit. This is a celebration of democracy. Ang gusto ko lang, since may kontrobersiya, i-scrap na talaga ang pork barrel at idiretso na sa mga ahensya ang pondo," said Taguig resident Opel de Asis, who dressed up as an "Angry Bird" during the event, in a separate interview.
Fashion designer Rajo Laurel also joined the event with other celebrities such as Raymond Gutierrez and Georgina Wilson, who called for "more transparency and accountability in government."
"Mahal natin ang bansa natin kaya gusto natin magbago ang gobyerno, magbago ang proseso," Laurel said. "I'm not mad. I am just concerned, because if this doesn't change, it's going to be a continuing disease," he added.
As of 9:15 a.m., Senior Supt. Joel Coronel, Manila Police District Deputy Director for Operations, said around 60,000 people are at the venue, with more on the way.
As of 10:30 a.m., the situation in Luneta and other places in the country were peaceful, according to National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac.
Protests outside Manila
However, simulatenous protests are occurring around the Philippines and in some overseas cities like Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Aside from Manila, protest marches against the PDAF will also be held on Monday in several provinces such as Palawan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Sindac said in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, around 60 members of non-government organizations and students, led by Father Simon Bistro, gathered at the City Plaza.
Meanwhile in Santiago City, around 20 members of a cause oriented group converged at Mabini Circle, while 50 bikers assembled in Aritao, Nueva Ecija, he added.
In Olongapo City, around 500 people, led by Mayor Rolen Paulino, gathered at Marikit Park, he said.
Meanwhile, around 570 people rallied at Bacolod Public Plaza in Bacolod City, and in front of a cathedral in Roxas City, Capiz, Sindac said.
In Cebu City, around 4,000 people, including members of groups Legal Alternatives for Women Center Inc., Cebu UP Students, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, and MAGDALO, joined together in a rally at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City, he added.
In Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, around 300 members of militant groups and NGOs gathered in Rizal Park, he said.
Public outrage against the pork barrel funds, or PDAF, began snowballing after the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran last month a series of reports detailing an alleged scam which funneled P10 billion in PDAF to bogus groups to fund ghost projects.
Two weeks ago, the Commission on Audit (COA) also released a report which bared how the PDAF was "not efficiently monitored and tracked, if at all" from 2007 to 2009