Thousands expected at 'Black Friday' protest vs Marcos burial

MANILA - Some 20,000 people wearing black shirts will gather at sundown in the capital's main park on Friday to protest former president Ferdinand Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery), a rally organizer said.

Victims of human rights abuse and veteran figures who led the fight against the Marcos dictatorship will join students in Luneta in what is hoped to be the first of many mass actions against the internment, which was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"This is going to be much bigger than what we've seen in recent months because institutions that do not traditionally send protesters are joining," Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang (CARMMA) convenor Bonifacio Ilagan told ABS-CBN News.

Ilagan said all schools along the university belt in downtown Manila would send contingents to the "Black Friday" protest.

Marcos was buried in a surprise, closely-guarded ceremony last week, sparking outrage among groups who accuse him and his family of stealing up to $10 billion from state coffers.

Former senators Rene Saguisag and Bobby Tanada are expected to join the protest, while "surprise celebrities and guests" will provide entertainment during the program, Ilagan said.

"Our protests are aimed at the reversal of the burial and for President Rodrigo Duterte to once and for all abandon his alliance with the Marcoses," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said.


"The people hold Duterte accountable for the burial. The people likewise demand an end to a system of political accommodation and compromise among the elite," he added.

Police said maximum tolerance would be observed.

"Pabayaan namin sila. Sa kanila na yang mga plaza, mga kalsada kung gusto nila. Hindi na namin sila pakialaman," Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, said Thursday.

(We will let them do what they want. They can occupy the plaza and the streets if they want. We will not meddle with their affairs.)

In a separate interview with ANC's Dateline Philippines, Ilagan said he is still uncertain what the future holds, but Friday's demonstration will definitely not be the last.

"This, the second ‘Black Friday Protest,’ I think this is going to be the second in a series of protest actions—maybe not necessarily every Friday, but this is definitely going to continue," he said.

"Ang laban ngayon ay laban na para sa isip at damdamin ng taongbayan, and we know that the protests are going to happen not only in the National Capital Region, but in so many urban and towns all over the Philippines—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao," he added.

(Today's fight is a fight for the people's minds and hearts, and we know that the protests are going to happen not only in the National Capital Region, but in so many urban and towns all over the Philippines—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Another anti-pork rally set in Luneta Friday

MANILA – A protest rally against the pork barrel system will be staged by several militant groups and Church-based groups at the Rizal Park on Friday.

The organizers said around 10,000 people, mostly students, are expected to attend the rally.

Fr. Joe Dizon, one of the organizers of the event, said the gathering will be used to educate more people on the pork barrel system and how it works.

The organizers and police, however, have yet to agree on the duration of the event.

Dizon said their original request to rally from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. was cut short to 6 p.m.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said they received the orders from the Manila City Hall, but one of the organizers, Bayan’s Renato Reyes, said the national government should decide on the matter and not the local government.

Kenneth Montegrande, spokesperson National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC), reminded all those who will be joining the rally to respect the park and avoid vandalism, littering, or any other activity that may damage the park.

Attendees will be allowed to bring placards and effigies, but they are not allowed to burn it inside the park. -- Report from by Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Million People March' organizers to keep eye on Napoles' case

MANILA -- The people behind the "Million People March" will watch closely as Janet Lim Napoles, one of the alleged key players behind the pork barrel scam, surrendered to President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday.

Speaking to radio DZMM, "Million People March" spokesperson Atty. Irene Aguila said the government should be aware that the public will be keeping an eye on how the court handles Napoles' case, given the number of people who attended Monday's protest in Luneta.
Philippines, Woe
Aguila also said that the people who supported Monday's protest are not expecting any special treatment for Napoles.

"I think ang important talaga is not so much only tonight, pero yung how the court investigation will be conducted," she said.

Aguila added that while Napoles is now under government custody, public officials should not forget the cry of the "Million People March," which is to scrap the pork barrel.

"Hindi lang naman si Janet Napoles ang pinupunterya ng mga sumisigaw sa Luneta. Di lang naman siya ang puno't dulo ng pagkilos noong Lunes.. I think tuloy pa rin ang panawagan na i-scrap ang pork barrel," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

VIDEO: Laguna cops 'bike to remember' Rizal on his birthday

MANILA, Philippines – Biking from the national hero’s execution site in Luneta to his birthplace, policemen from Laguna sought to honor Dr. Jose Rizal as the nation marked his 151st birth anniversary on June 19.

Sticking with the number "151" to match Rizal’s age if he were alive, the organizers kept the total number of participants at 151, the distance covered by the participants at 151 kilometers and started the activity at exactly 1:51 am.

One cop explained why they chose biking to remember Rizal's birthday: "Ito kasi yung nakahiligan namin aside from maganda sa katawan yung pagbisikleta, eh nabibigyan pa namin ng pagpapahalaga yung memory ng ating national hero. That's why ang motto naming mga bikers ngayon: We bike to remember. [This is our interest and aside from its health benefit, it is also our way to show importance and honor our national hero. The bikers' motto is: We bike to remember."

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director of Laguna made sure that even though there were 151 policemen who participated, there were still other policemen at their posts to ensure safety and security in Laguna areas. With Aliana Gimena, InterAksyon.com

source: interaksyon.com

Filipinos brave rain to offer flowers to Rizal at Luneta

Despite the rainy weather, Filipinos stood in line to offer flowers to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila Sunday.

Many Filipinos waited near the Rizal Monument to offer red, white and pink flowers, according to a report by radio dzBB's Manny Vargas.

They said they did not mind getting wet as they wanted to pay tribute to Rizal on his 150th birth anniversary, the report said.

Earlier on Sunday, many schoolchildren braved the rain to take part in a fun run for education at the Quirino Grandstand area.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Secretary Armin Luistro welcomed "over 100,000" students after the run, although government radio said the students started going home past 8:30 a.m.

"Ang araw na ito ay para sa mga buhay na bayani tulad ng mga guro at estudyante, ipagdiwang natin (This day is for our living heroes like our teachers and pupils. Let us celebrate this day)," Luistro said, according to an entry on the DepEd's Twitter account. — LBG, GMA News

article source: gmanews.tv