Low turnout in anti-pork rallies

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuanos who want the abolition of the pork barrel system are asked to sign a petition launched last night.

This, as Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III cautioned the Supreme Court (SC) order freezing the remaining Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2013 may affect services by the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

The hospital caters to mostly underprivileged constituents of the province.

"Posible nga maundang ang (It is possible there is a stop to the giving of) medical assistance. Importante baya ni (The assistance is important) especially sa constituents sa congressmen," Davide said.

He said, though, that the Capitol is setting aside a budget for medical assistance for VSMMC for such eventuality.

Davide said he looks forward to a thorough investigation and the enforcement of stricter guidelines on the use of the pork barrel.

The controversy, he said, should serve as a lesson for legislators and those involved in bogus non-government organizations.

 "I'm glad nga nahitabo pod ni kay leksyon man pod ni (this happened because this teaches us a lesson). Let's wait for the findings lang," said the Cebu governor.

The SC Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order on the release of the rest of the 2013 PDAF, in response to three petitions filed.

The decision came at the height of the Filipinos' anger over an alleged multi-billion PDAF scam, allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim Napoles, that fueled calls for the abolition of the pork barrel, another name for PDAF.

Heeding the calls, concerned citizens in Cebu gathered at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda in Cebu City and launched a signature campaign in last night's "Rescue 911" cause, so named because of yesterday's date.

"Hingpit nga pagwagtang sa (Total abolition of the) pork barrel system, pagtaral ngadto sa hukmanan sa tanang nakinabang sa (filing of charges against those who benefitted from the) pork barrel funds ug pagpahamtang sa tukmang silot sibo sa ilang kasaypanan (and imposition of appropriate penalties)," the petition read.

"Isip hulip sa (In lieu of the) pork barrel system, usbon ang (change the)  internal revenue sharing gikan sa 60/40 porsyento pabor sa gobyerno nasyonal ngadto sa 70/30 pabor sa mga (of 60 percent-40 percent) in favor of the national government to 70 percent-30 percent) in favor of the)  local government units sa mga kalungsuran, dakbayan, ug lalawigan sa tibuok kapupud-an (of the towns, cities, provinces of the country)," it added.

Organizer Abbey Canturias said the petition has so far gathered 100 signatures.

In Manila, yesterday's "EDSA Tayo" prayer rally against the PDAF fell short of the expected number of participants, with more policemen reportedly around than attendees of the vigil calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

The EDSA Tayo Facebook page got 5,000 people confirming attendance, but the police said only around 1,200 showed up at the EDSA Shrine.

The number was way too small compared to the estimated 100,000 people who joined the Million People March in Rizal Park last Aug. 26 for the same cause.

Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr, National Capital Region Police Office director, said there were about 200 to 350 people at the EDSA Shrine around noon yesterday, while his men in the vicinity numbered around 500, with more positioned in other strategic areas. Total police deployment for the activity was reported at 2,931.

Garbo said the number of attendees peaked at around 1,200 at 3 p.m.

EDSA Tayo organizers, though, were not bothered that only a few showed up.

"We are not after the numbers. We are satisfied (with the turnout)," said journalist Junep Ocampo, one of the organizers.

"We will be asking so much from the people if we force them to be absent from their jobs or classes. We don't want to cause additional suffering," he said.

Keep the fire burning

Ocampo also said the people behind the multi-sectoral and inter-faith prayer vigil just wanted to continue the fight against the pork barrel system that was started during the Million People March.

"We were inspired by the Million People March. We don't want the calls to abolish the pork barrel system to stop in Luneta (Rizal Park)," he said.

While both events called for the abolition of the pork barrel system, Ocampo said yesterday's activity was different from the previous gathering.

"This is not a protest rally. This is a prayer vigil. We want the same thing, but we want to do it in a different way. We want to do it with prayer," he said.

The low turnout was also true in Cebu City, with police estimating just 40 to 50 people joining the "Fuenta Ta" call, which is a far cry from initially projections of 3,000 to 5,000 people.

Chief Inspector Renero Agustin, Cebu City Police Station 2 chief, said he deployed 10 of his men, augmented by 10 more from other police stations, because the expected number of attendees was supposedly in thousands.

A total of 25 Cebu City Traffic Operations Management personnel were also fielded around the area.

Agustin and his men stayed inside the Fuente Osmena rotunda the entire duration of the rally from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The permit to rally issued by the City Hall was from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.— Jessa J. Agua and Michael Vencynth Braga; Philippine Star News Service/RHM