Groups that figured in last year’s massive demonstrations against the pork barrel system on Thursday marked Independence Day with separate rallies but still with a common cry: the prosecution of all politicians involved in the multibillion-peso scam, including allies of President Benigno Aquino III.
Anti-pork barrel advocates earlier criticized Aquino for choosing to observe the country’s 116th Independence Day in Naga City instead of in Manila, where the demonstrations were held.
Malacañang has denied Aquino was avoiding the rallies, saying it has always been the President’s policy to commemorate the holiday outside Manila to mark the historical significance of other cities.
“Itong araw ito ay para naman sa taong bayan. Turn naman natin na mag-privilege speech. One of our calls today is for the President to stop coddling the corrupt. Bakit walang investigation man lang ng allies? Dapat walang kinikilingan,” Scrap Pork Network spokesperson Betty Romero said.
Two of the senators charged with plunder and graft in connection with the pork barrel scam—Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.—earlier this week delivered privilege speeches stressing their innocence but bidding the Senate goodbye in anticipation of their arrest.
“Yung mga kinasuhan na ngayon sa Senado, hindi sapat yun dahil puro mga kaaway ng Presidente yun e, puro nasa oposisyon. Ang gusto namin, lahat ng sangkot, managot,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) spokesperson Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño said.
The names of some of Aquino’s closest allies, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala among them, have been implicated in the pork barrel scam controversy by alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
The officials have denied anything to do with Napoles, who like the three senators is facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan. Her bid to become a state witness and have immunity from suit was junked by the Ombudsman.
“Lahat ng kurakot, ikulong lahat!” chanted the members of Scrap Pork Network and other anti-corruption organizations during the rally which they dubbed “Ouch PiNoy, sumagot, managot kundi lagot!”
Social activist Mae Paner, also known as “Juana Change”, attended the demonstration in a Filipiniana dress embellished with piggy toys. Paner also brought with her a paper mache of a dilapidated house.
She said the dilapidated house symbolizes the country being destroyed by massive corruption.
“Itong baboy ang simbolo ng pork barrel na siyang sumira sa ating bahay. Kung hindi tayo magkakaisa laban sa korupsyon, patuloy lang tayong paghahatiin ng problemang ito,” Paner said.
“Ang pork barrel corruption issue na ito ay kailangang imbestigahan ng walang kinikilingan at kahit sino man ang tamaan,”Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said during militant groups’ rally.
The leftist organizations set up several gimmicks during the rally such as “pork selfie booth” “anti-pork salad” and “pork marriage booth” wherein political personalities allegedly involved in the pork scam were shown getting hitched to Napoles.
The main attraction of the program was a giant effigy of a “golden” pig.
“’Yang golden baboy, yan yung sinasamba ng mga pulitiko, yan ang sinasamba sa altar ng korupsyon.At tayo po ay nagproprotesta na hanggang ngayon, sa bulok na sistemang ito, ay walang napapanagot!” said BAYAN secretary-general Renato Reyes.
The militant groups called on the Palace to order a deeper investigation on the pork scam.
Cases questioning the constitutionality of the DAP remain pending before the Supreme Court.
“Ang panawagan namin, abolish all pork, including the presidential pork,” Ocampo said.
Meanwhile, retired Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed doubt that the government will prosecute all those involved in the pork scam.
“Wala e. Nakakahiya mang aminin ‘no, pero parang umiikot tayo, hinahabol natin yung buntot natin,” Cruz said.
