14 September 2013, 8:00 a.m. – DIFFERENT faiths, one cause.
Religious groups—Catholics, Evangelicals, and Muslims— gathered for a prayer rally as part of another protest against pork barrel corruption at Rizal Park Friday afternoon.
“Ibig sabihin dahil iba-iba [ang mga religion], lahat ay nag-reconcile. Those who may not belong to any denomination or sect, nakikisama rin because they understand, so it’s beyond order, it’s beyond religious grouping,” Bishop Constante Claro of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
The protest, dubbed “Forward March,” was organized by the #abolishpork movement, a separate group from the netizens that called for the successful “Million People March” last Aug. 26.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said the fight for the abolition of the pork barrel system would continue, even if the rally drew only about 3,000 people against the expected 10,000.
“Imposible ginoong Malacañang (President Aquino) na ang mga Pilipino ay papayag sa nangyayari sa bayan namin ngayon, nandito man kami o wala, ang nagaganap po sa ating bayan ay mahirap lunukin, mahirap tanggapin. Kaya ‘wag ninyong sabihin na kami ay kakaunti lamang dahil ang konting ito ay nangangakong magdadasal at nangangako kaming kikilos,” Cruz said in his speech.
Students from Catholic schools, including UST, also attended the event upon the invitation of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.
“Bilang mga estudyante, bilang mga Tomasino, kami po ay nandito upang ipakita na ang mga Tomasino ay may pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan,” said Ted Tuvera, spokesperson of student group Youth Act Now-UST chapter.
The event was followed by the “Rock and Rage” youth concert.
The rally was held two days after “EDSA Tayo,” an anti-pork barrel prayer vigil in EDSA Shrine, which drew only a thousand people. Another rally calling for the abolition of pork barrel is slated on Sept. 21.
Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, is detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Whistleblower Benhur Luy testified against her in a Senate hearing last Sept. 12. Celton F. Ramirez
