• Burmese
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Asia

Thousands of Filipinos Protest Against Corruption

by The Associated Press
August 27, 2013
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Thousands of Filipinos Protest Against Corruption

Demonstrators wear masks depicting pigs during a protest against official corruption at Luneta park in Metro Manila on Aug. 26

2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANILA — Tens of thousands of Filipinos protested in a Manila park Monday, demanding the scrapping of a corruption-tainted development fund that allows lawmakers to allocate government money for projects in their districts.

A government audit released Aug. 16 found that US$141 million of the fund allocated over three years under the previous administration was released to questionable aid groups and ghost projects.

RelatedPosts

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

November 28, 2023
10.1k
Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

November 28, 2023
1.7k
Myanmar Resistance Calls on Junta Troops to Surrender For Their Own Safety

Myanmar Resistance Calls on Junta Troops to Surrender For Their Own Safety

November 28, 2023
1.3k

The scandal centered on a powerful businesswoman who allegedly collaborated with lawmakers in channeling some of the funds. She has gone into hiding after she was charged with illegal detention of a whistle-blower. Local media reports of her lavish lifestyle have angered many ordinary taxpayers in the Southeast Asian country where nearly 28 percent of the 97 million people live on a little over a dollar a day.

That prompted calls on social media for Monday’s protest in Rizal Park, where more than 100,000 turned out including students, workers, priests and nuns. Police said about 70,000 protesters were at the peak of the rally, which also featured group singing, family picnics and a religious mass before a peaceful dispersal.

Similar protests were held in a dozen other cities across the country, and in New York and other cities where there are concentrations of Filipinos.

Some Manila protesters carried placards saying “Senators, you should be ashamed of yourselves.” Others wore pig face masks or shirts calling for the abolition of the fund.

Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle told the cheering crowd that all Filipinos should act in an honorable way. The rally coincides with National Heroes Day.

“Let us also listen to the voice of God, especially in our conscience,” Tagle said.

Actress Mae Paner, who wore a pig’s snout, a wig and a barrel around her body, said she was joining millions of Filipinos who “want to abolish the pork barrel system in our country.”

“We need real change, especially the people who are suffering,” said Erika Estacio, a University of the Philippines student. She said if the government’s budget was spent properly, her brother who left recently for a better-paying job in Qatar need not have been separated from his 5-year-old daughter.

Impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, convicted last year by senators for failing to declare $2.4 million in bank accounts, joined the rally but left after being heckled by protesters.

Critics said President Benigno Aquino III’s promise Friday to reform the system was not enough, and that all pork barrel funds must be abolished.

Aquino, who has made fighting corruption a centerpiece of his administration, said he has abolished the Priority Development Assistance Fund and will replace it with a system that plugs loopholes that allow for misuse. He said there was nothing “intrinsically wrong” with the system but it has been abused by “a few greedy individuals.” He vowed to prosecute those who misuse the fund.

Aquino reiterated his promise during a National Heroes’ Day speech.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said money for the abolished fund will now go to specific projects of government agencies.

Under the PDAF system, lump sums were earmarked in the government budget for projects proposed by each lawmaker a year—200 million pesos ($4.6 million) for each senator and 70 million pesos ($1.6 million) for each House of Representatives member. The projects and beneficiaries were identified by the lawmakers after the budget was passed by Congress.

Lacierda said under the new system, no lump sum will be earmarked for legislators, no funds will be channeled to non-government organizations, and the public can monitor the release of the funds through the government’s website.

Your Thoughts …
Previous Post

Indonesian Clerics Call for Ban of Miss World

Next Post

United, Chelsea Draw 0-0 in Premier League

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

...

Similar Picks:

Brotherhood Alliance Marching Towards Capital of Myanmar’s Kokang Region

Brotherhood Alliance Marching Towards Capital of Myanmar’s Kokang Region

November 25, 2023
25.4k
Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

November 27, 2023
23.1k
General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

September 14, 2023
23.1k
Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta

Three Rebel Army Chiefs Predict Rapid Fall of Myanmar Junta

August 18, 2023
21k
Has China Lost Control of Ethnic Armies in Myanmar’s War-Torn Borderland?

Has China Lost Control of Ethnic Armies in Myanmar’s War-Torn Borderland?

November 6, 2023
18k
Myanmar’s Brigade 143 Surrenders to Brotherhood Alliance in Shan State

Myanmar’s Brigade 143 Surrenders to Brotherhood Alliance in Shan State

November 1, 2023
17.9k
Load More
Next Post
United

United, Chelsea Draw 0-0 in Premier League

Order Restored After Fresh Burma Religious Unrest

Order Restored After Fresh Burma Religious Unrest

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Echoes of 2017 Genocide as Myanmar Junta Imposes ‘Four Cuts’ on Rakhine

Echoes of 2017 Genocide as Myanmar Junta Imposes ‘Four Cuts’ on Rakhine

6 days ago
6.8k
Operation 1027 is Creating a New Political Template for Myanmar’s Future

Operation 1027 is Creating a New Political Template for Myanmar’s Future

1 week ago
4.6k

Most Read

  • Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

    Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Continues to Suffer Defeats a Month Into Operation 1027

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Will Continue to Use Chemical Weapons: MNDAA 

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chinese Navy Ships Arrive in Myanmar for Joint Drills

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.