Bayan to Palace: We're not on the same side

"If this is true, why is it that the people still protested despite Aquino’s  announcement abolishing the PDAF last week? Why is it that the people have constantly mocked Aquino’s rebranded itemized pork? It’s because we were never on the same side to begin with and pork was never abolished," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

 

"Tens of thousands protested nationwide including overseas to demand the Aquino government to abolish all pork and to hold accountable those involved in the scam," he added.

 

Bayan said that the August 26 rally brought in people from communities, church groups, schools, cause-oriented groups, labor, and different professions. 

 

The group said that more protests should be readied as Malacanang continues to defy the people’s clamor for the abolition of pork.

 

It also pointed out that Aquino’s refusal to scrap congressional pork is borne out his desire to hold on to his own presidential pork, including some P450 billion in Special Purpose Funds.

 

Bayan said that the upcoming Senate hearings on the pork barrel scam should also be occasions to press for accountability on the issue.

 

Protests are also being readied for these hearings, the group said.