THOUGH PALER in comparison than the nationwide #MillionPeopleMarch last August 26, the EDSA Tayo prayer vigil held at EDSA Shrine in Ortigas yesterday, September 11, did not fail to draw impassioned citizens outraged over the massive Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
Organizers banked on the spirit and momentum of the August 26 demonstrations. Dubbed as a non-partisan prayer vigil, attendees were asked to wear white and were discouraged to bring banners—requests also made during the #MillionPeopleMarch.
However, this did not stop militant groups from staging lightning rallies within EDSA Shrine’s vicinity. Minor confrontations between some marching militant demonstrators and the police ensued, but these were resolved immediately. Meanwhile, some members of Sanlakas unfurled a large banner with the words “Scrap All Pork” atop the Ortigas flyover.
Some groups were also able to mingle with the crowds and flash signs. One included the overseas Filipino workers group Migrante, declaring a “no-remittance day” on September 19 in protest of the pork barrel’s abuse.
Prayers and pronouncements
The prayer vigil started with a Mass by Fr. Nilo Mangussad, rector of EDSA Shrine at around 11 AM Afterwards, former National Economic Development Authority Director General Winnie Monsod and former Bureau of Treasury Head Leonor Briones gave lectures on the pork barrel system. Briones zeroed in on the presidential pork barrel, officially known as the Presidential Social Fund (PSF). She said that along with the congressional pork, the PSF should also go.
Representatives from different religions led the interfaith service that followed. During the service, members from the indigenous peoples (IPs), education and labor community were also asked to express their sentiments on the PDAF scandal. They asked the government to realign pork funds instead to education and welfare.
Various song numbers also followed including Asin’s “Balita” and Bamboo’s “Tatsulok.” Yesterday’s event concluded with the singing of the traditional protest hymn “Bayan Ko.”
“Ang sarap ng buhay nila”
Official estimates by the police pegged peak attendance at around 850 to 1,000, less than the expected 5,000. However, organizers argued that the 5,000 was achieved, since many attendees just passed by and left later on.
Some however, stayed all throughout the five-hour event. Asked for her reason in joining the prayer vigil, Gina of Quezon City said she wanted to show her solidarity with those fighting for the cause. “Siyempre para ipakita natin ‘yung suporta sa mga taong namulat na ‘di ba? Ganito ang nangyayari sa perang napupunta lang pala sa wala, sa sarili lang nilang bulsa (Of course, to show support to the people who have become aware. This is what happens to our money—it just goes to nothing, to the pockets of other people),” she said.
Meanwhile, Julie Sergio of Quezon City was not able to hide her emotions on the abuses of politicians. “Nakakaiyak naman ho kasi. Ang daming naghihirap na Pilipino tapos [dinadaan lang pala nila sa ganyan.] Ang sarap ng buhay nila. (It just makes me cry. Many Filipinos are suffering and they’re just doing that to our money. How comfortable their lives are!),” she said.
Developments
Several developments regarding the issue have taken place in the days between the #MillionPeopleMarch and EDSA Tayo. Two days after the Luneta march, Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multi-billion-peso PDAF scam surrendered to President Benigno S. Aquino III. She is now currently under detention at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has also launched an investigation on the issue.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte announced that the House of Representatives will remove the PDAF from the 2014 national budget. Vice President Jejomar Binay has also asked Congress to remove his own pork barrel allocation from next year’s budget. On the eve of the EDSA Tayo vigil, the Supreme Court released a temporary restraining order against the release of the remaining 2013 PDAF allocations.
Yet those in EDSA Shrine stressed that this will not be the end of public demonstrations calling for the abolition of the pork barrel.
Sergio urged continuous vigilance among the people. “Tayo [na nasa] kalsada, hindi tayo titigil, dapat hindi tumigil. Dahil pare-pareho lang naman ang nakaupo. Saan mo sila dadalhin? Silang mag-iimbestiga sa Kongreso? Sa Supreme Court? Sinong magbibigay ng hustisya? Sila? (Those of us on the streets, we will not stop, we should not stop. In the end, those in power are all the same. Where will you bring them? At the congressional investigations? At the Supreme Court? Who will give justice? Them?),” she stressed.
Various groups have already slated different mobilizations within the month of September.
