GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Topstories
News
'Golden pig' symbolizes greed in Makati anti-pork barrel rally
By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB, GMA News
(Updated 8:04 p.m.) For the thousands of anti-pork barrel protesters in Makati City on Friday, the effigy of a golden pig became the symbol of billions in government funds wasted on anomalous transactions and questionable projects.
The centerpiece of the protest, the golden pig was adorned with flowers and was likened to the Bible's Golden Calf, a symbol of greed and corruption, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes.
The protesters called for the abolition of discretionary funds allotted to government officials as well as the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the source of about P12 billion in allocations for lawmakers' projects in the past two years.
Rally organizers dubbed it the Million People's March, but Makati chief police Manuel Lucban said only an estimated 2,400 people attended event. It was the fifth in a series of protests calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system.
Among the notable personalities who attended the rally were retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada, former natiomal treasurer Leonor Briones, human rights lawyer Harry Roque, and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera.
"Ginagamit lang ang pork barrel para kumuha sa kaban ng bayan," Cruz said. "Pati ang buwis ng tiangge! Para bang aping-api na tayo."
Roque, who wore a shirt printed with "UP Law vs. Pork Barrel," said he was among the supporters of then-Senator Benigno Aquino III who once gathered at the Ayala triangle to convince him to run for President in 2010. Aquino won the elections handily.
"We came back here to remind him of his promise, otherwise we would ask him to leave," Roque said.
Briones, meanwhile, said she joined the rally to call for the abolition of all lump sum funds allotted in the budget.
"50 years na akong nagma-martsa," a visibly agitated Briones said. "It's up to the people to decide whether Aquino should be impeached."
Lozada, who was sheltered by Catholic Church groups after he blew the lid on the botched NBN-ZTE deal during the Arroyo administration, said the golden pig symbolizes the culture of corruption in the country.
"He who has the gold rules," he said.
Protesters took to art in expressing their disgust over the pork barrel system, with many of them wearing pig masks. In front of a fastfood establishment, a pig statue was displayed.
Not far from the golden pig, performance artist Juana Change (real name Mae Paner) posed as Janet Napulis -- a reference to Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam who is currently detained for serious illegal detention charges.
"Napulis" came complete with bullet-proof vest and Kevlar helmet, with a child wearing a pig mask beside her. Sticking out of her head was a thinking bubble that said: "Bakit ako lang?" and "Misery loves company."
"Bakit si Napoles lang? Dapat lahat ng involved makulong," Paner said. -- KBK/YA, GMA News
The centerpiece of the protest, the golden pig was adorned with flowers and was likened to the Bible's Golden Calf, a symbol of greed and corruption, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes.
The protesters called for the abolition of discretionary funds allotted to government officials as well as the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the source of about P12 billion in allocations for lawmakers' projects in the past two years.
Rally organizers dubbed it the Million People's March, but Makati chief police Manuel Lucban said only an estimated 2,400 people attended event. It was the fifth in a series of protests calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system.
Among the notable personalities who attended the rally were retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz, NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada, former natiomal treasurer Leonor Briones, human rights lawyer Harry Roque, and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera.
"Ginagamit lang ang pork barrel para kumuha sa kaban ng bayan," Cruz said. "Pati ang buwis ng tiangge! Para bang aping-api na tayo."
Roque, who wore a shirt printed with "UP Law vs. Pork Barrel," said he was among the supporters of then-Senator Benigno Aquino III who once gathered at the Ayala triangle to convince him to run for President in 2010. Aquino won the elections handily.
"We came back here to remind him of his promise, otherwise we would ask him to leave," Roque said.
Briones, meanwhile, said she joined the rally to call for the abolition of all lump sum funds allotted in the budget.
"50 years na akong nagma-martsa," a visibly agitated Briones said. "It's up to the people to decide whether Aquino should be impeached."
Lozada, who was sheltered by Catholic Church groups after he blew the lid on the botched NBN-ZTE deal during the Arroyo administration, said the golden pig symbolizes the culture of corruption in the country.
"He who has the gold rules," he said.
Protesters took to art in expressing their disgust over the pork barrel system, with many of them wearing pig masks. In front of a fastfood establishment, a pig statue was displayed.
Not far from the golden pig, performance artist Juana Change (real name Mae Paner) posed as Janet Napulis -- a reference to Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam who is currently detained for serious illegal detention charges.
"Napulis" came complete with bullet-proof vest and Kevlar helmet, with a child wearing a pig mask beside her. Sticking out of her head was a thinking bubble that said: "Bakit ako lang?" and "Misery loves company."
"Bakit si Napoles lang? Dapat lahat ng involved makulong," Paner said. -- KBK/YA, GMA News
More Videos
Most Popular
