THE first batch of plunder charges may have been filed against lawmakers and other officials allegedly involved in the P10-Billion Pork Barrel Scam in the Philippines, but Filipinos around the world are not letting up.
“Tuloy ang laban” remains to be their battlecry, demanding for the swift, fair and impartial investigation, and conviction of those who pocketed taxpayers’ money — which should have been used to fund anti-poverty programs, health services, education, and infrastructure projects in the Philippines.
In solidarity with the planned anti-corruption protest rallies in Manila on September 21 (the 41st anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines), kababayans here in America are fired up to stage their own protest actions in key cities across the United States.
On September 20, at the Philippine Embassy, kababayans in Washington, DC feasted on lechon.
“Bilang simbolo na babalatan po natin ang mga conspirators ng pork barrel at mga plunderers. Isasawsaw natin sila sa suka hanggang sila ay masuspinde o mag-resign at mabigyan ng katarungan ang lahat ng mga mamamayang Pilipino,” said the Fil-Am organization Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC).
Protest rallies were also held in San Francisco and Los Angeles last Friday, in front of their respective Philippine Consulate.
In New York on Monday, September 23, 4pm (EST) protests will also be held at the US State Department NY Office at 799 UN Plaza, Between E 45th and 46 Sts. And in the evening, an Inter-Faith Vigil will be held at 6:30pm (EST) at the NY Philippine Consulate at 556 5th Ave. Bet 45th and 46th St.
Let me share with you the press statement of MHC, articulating the position of many Fil-Ams who joined these rallies:
PORK BARREL SYSTEM IS INSTITUTIONALIZED PLUNDER, END IT NOW!
The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a Washington, DC based national organization that promotes and secure the cultural identity of immigrants in the United States commends President Benigno Aquino Jr. for taking the plunder case to the Ombudsman against the initial batch (38) of people accused of conspiring to defraud the Filipino people of billions in public funds.
But MHC believes that the Aquino government has, in their control, the same charges against other senators, congressmen and other public officials in the administration who are also included in this heinous crime. We say no to selective indictments and prosecution of all those involved. We ask the Aquino government that indictments of all co-conspirators, accessories whether in the public and private sectors be filed all at the same time.
The Filipino people and our nation must know the extent and damage of the conspiracy to plunder our economy of the billions of funds that should have been used for foods, jobs, education, health care, housing and other socialized services.
MHC believes that the pork barrel system is an institutionalized plunder of people’s money and must end now.
We call for the unconditional abolition not only of the Congressional pork barrel but also the Presidential pork barrel. Billions of pork barrel allocations have been stolen and unjustly enriched senators, congressmen, other government officials and their cohorts in the private sector in a conspiracy like the “Napoles Scheme.”
For sure this institutionalized plunder and corruption are also being done by other public officials for years under different administrations in “creative ways” similar to the “Napoles” type that have elevated the pork barrel scandal in the national limelight.
The practice of pork barrel allocations in the national budget has become an effective tool of political patronage and has in fact legalized plunder of people’s money. Millions of Filipinos continue to live in abject poverty as they continue to grapple with their basic daily needs like foods, jobs, clothing, shelter, education, etc.
We, the Global Pinoys are united with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines in their demand to end and finally scrap the pork barrel system. Our call also includes an independent probe of all the corrupt practices of our government officials and their cohorts and for their indictment and prosecution.
We call for the arrests and suspension from office of all public officials involved in the fleecing of our economy.
We further call for the freezing and confiscation of all assets and ill-gotten wealth of public officials and private individuals and their return to the government coffers.
MHC believes that we will come out as a stronger and respectable nation in the international community, when the Philippine government allows the wheels of justice to run fast with objectivity and impartiality. Accountability and transparency should be the trademarks of the Philippine government and not institutionalized corruption.
MHC calls on the Fil-Am community in the United States to remain vigilant at all times as events continue to unfold in the Philippines. We must continue to get involved. The survival of our nation and our democracy is at stake. But we must all remain united as we continue to anchor our mission and advocacy through peaceful means to achieve social and political transformations.
TAMA NA , SOBRA NA, PORK BARREL AY DAPAT IBASURA; MIGRANTENG PILIPINO SA AMERIKA GUMISING KA AT MAKIISA, MAHAL NA INANG BAYAN NGAYON AY KAILANGAN KA, TINIG MO AY MAHALAGA!
MABUHAY ANG MIGRANTENG PILIPINO SA AMERIKA! BAYAN KO, ITUTULOY NAMIN ANG LABAN MO!! MAY GOD OF HISTORY BLESS THE PHILIPPINES AND OUR PEOPLE!
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
