PNP: P500 allegedly offered to some people at EDSA Shrine gathering

Some people were offered P500 in exchange for their presence at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday.

"There are some videos na lumalabas po, if I may share again, na 'yung iba po doon allegedly were transported from their barangays papunta po doon sa lugar," PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

(There are some videos that are coming out, if I may share again, showing that some of them were allegedly transported from their barangays to the area.)

"Pinangakuan daw po na babayaran po sila at papakainin po. In fact, 'yung iba po sa kanila ay nagrereklamo dahil allegedly ang pangako sa kanila ay bibigyan sila ng P500 for three days pero ang binigbay lang ay P200 po," she added.

(They were promised that they would be paid and given food. In fact, some of them were complaining because they were allegedly promised that they would be given P500 for three days, but they only received P200.)

In another video presented by the PNP, a person was seen collecting and writing the names of the protesters on a logbook.

"Without demeaning po 'yung purpose and meaning ng mga taong nandoon, sana naman, again, we don't want to prejudge po 'yung mga kababayan natin dito na napangakuan at nagamit po for their own vested interest," Fajardo said.

(Hopefully, without demeaning the purpose and meaning of the people there, again, we don't want to prejudice our countrymen here who were promised and used for their own vested interest.)

Last Tuesday, the rector of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA (EDSA Shrine) issued a reminder for the public to practice proper decorum and respect in visiting holy places as people flock over to the historic church.

Reverend Fr. Jerome Secillano said hundreds of people arrived at the EDSA Shrine, the site of the EDSA people power revolts, starting at 6 a.m. Tuesday "for reasons only known to them, and for some, unknown to them."

"We insist that proper decorum must be practiced in a sacred place, a house of worship and a repository of the Blessed Sacrament. Be informed that we won’t tolerate any unruly behavior and untoward activities that may compromise the sanctity and dignity of the House of God," Secillano said.

For his part, Sambayanan Secretary General and Volunteer Leader Ka Eric Celiz assured that the gathering shall remain peaceful and that they had no intentions to be violent.

"Ang aim dito ay magkaroon ng araw ng pagpapahayag, but the people will have to speak up and stand up dahil hindi na maayos ng nangyayari sa ating bansa. Nanawagan kami na ang military forces, and PNP and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), ang security sector ay dapat kilalanin nila ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa mapayapang pagtitipon at sa sama-samang pagkilos as guaranteed by the Constitution," Celiz said.

(The aim here is to have a day to express ourselves, but the people will have to speak up and stand up because we will no longer be able to fix what is happening in this country. We are calling the military forces, and PNP and AFP, and the security sector to recognize the rights of citizens for peaceful gatherings and a joint mobilization as guaranteed by the Constitution.)

The EDSA Shrine was established on December 1989 as a dedication to Mary, Queen of Peace who was believed to have played a part in the peaceful and bloodless People Power Revolution that ousted former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1986. — VDV, GMA Integrated News