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Thousands
of protesters make a thumbs down sign during a rally against
corruption at a
park in Manila on August 26, 2013 (AFP, Ted Aljibe)
|
MANILA —
Tens of thousands of people gathered in a central Manila park on Monday to
protest against embedded corruption in the Philippine political system after a
rallying call on Facebook and Twitter.
The
so-called "million people march" is one of the largest public
demonstrations since President Benigno Aquino was elected in 2010 on an
anti-corruption platform.
The
protesters ranged from nuns and priests and students to businessmen,
middle-class families, lawyers and other professionals, showcasing the
broad-based anger over graft in the impoverished nation.
"The Filipino
people are now modern. Proof is the million people march that we can't be
fooled by our leaders anymore," a protester calling himself Gundam08
tweeted from the rally site.
 |
An activist applies finishing touches to
masks in Manila on August 25, 2013,
ahead of an anti-corruption protest (AFP,
Noel Celis)
|
The PDAF is
money allocated for lawmakers to be used in their pet development projects.
Critics see it as funding "pork barrel" projects which have
traditionally been a source of corruption.
At the
centre of the controversy is a woman the newspapers reported to have allegedly
connived with legislators to siphon off some 10 billion pesos ($230 million)
from the fund.
Aquino had
previously expanded the PDAF under his 2014 budget so that each senator will
receive 200 million pesos ($4.5 million) while each member of the House of
Representatives gets 70 million pesos for their "pork barrel."
But in the
face of growing anger earlier this month, he had suspended the releases of
money and vowed to reform the PDAF system.
The
protestors, carrying signs saying "Abolish pork barrel" and
"Change the culture of political patronage," were peaceful even if
they appeared to have no leader, said national police spokesman Senior
Superintendent Reuben Sindac.
"It's
a very respectable gathering. There are families here like a picnic. They are
policing their own ranks. This is purely social-network propelled," he
told AFP while monitoring the rally.
Of the huge
crowd at the Luneta Park, only a few hundred were from the leftist protest
groups that usually lead such street protests, he said.
Similar
rallies were being held in public parks throughout the country, Sindac said,
adding they were also peaceful.
Related Articles:
"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it), Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse), Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)
“… Government
Let us speak of government. We're not speaking of your government, but of any government - the way it works, how it survives, how it has survived, the way it campaigns, and how it elects leaders. It's going to change.
Years ago, I told you, "When everybody can talk to everybody, there can be no secrets." Up to this point on this planet, government has counted on one thing - that the people can't easily talk to each other on a global scale. They have to get their information through government or official channels. Even mass media isn't always free enough, for it reports that which the government reports. Even a free society tends to bias itself according to the bias of the times. However, when you can have Human Beings talking to each other all at once, all over the planet without government control, it all changes, for there is open revelation of truth.
Democracy itself will change and you're going to see it soon. The hold-outs, the few countries I have mentioned in the past, are doomed unless they recalibrate. They're doomed to be the same as they have been and won't be able to exist as they are now with everyone changing around them.
I mentioned North Korea in the past. Give it time. Right now, the young man is under the control of his father's advisors. But when they're gone, you will see something different, should he survive. Don't judge him yet, for he is being controlled.
In government, if you're entire voting base has the ability to talk to itself without restriction and comes up with opinions by itself without restriction, it behooves a politician to be aware and listen to them. This will change what politicians will do. It will change the way things work in government. Don't be surprised when some day a whole nation can vote all at once in a very unusual way. Gone will be the old systems where you used to count on horseback riders to report in from faraway places. Some of you know what I am talking about. Government will change. The systems around you, both dark and light, will change. You're going to start seeing something else, too, so let's change the subject and turn the page. …”
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