Palace: No problem with Sept. 11 anti-pork barrel rally at EDSA shrine

Malacañang on Saturday said it has no problem with the plan of various groups to hold another rally against the pork barrel system on September 11, this time along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

However, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that since Sept. 11 is a weekday, they may have to take steps to make sure traffic is not disrupted by the supposed gathering.

The projected protest, dubbed “EDSA Tayo,” will be held on Sept. 11 at the EDSA Shrine.

It would be the second anti-pork mass gathering in Metro Manila since Aug. 26, when people linked by social media flocked to Luneta to call for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

On August 26, some 75,000 people attended the protest action against alleged anomalies in the use of pork barrel funds.
 
Senior Supt. Joel Coronel, Manila Police District Deputy Director for Operations, told GMA News Online that the number included those who stayed at the grassy area in front of the Quirino Grandstand— which can hold 120,000 people—and nearby streets.

On government-run dzRB radio on Saturday, Valte said, “Again, malaya in the same way nangyari ang pagpupulong sa Luneta. Malaya lahat mging bahagi sa ganitong aksyon. Magiging handa ang kinauukulan para sa kasiguraduhan ang trapik hindi maantala, siguraduhin natin ang (security ng) nagpupulong mananatili natin.”

Expected to join the September 11 rally are showbiz personalities.

The rally is being planned despite President Benigno Aquino III’s pronouncement that he wants the Priority Development Assistance Fund replaced with a new mechanism. - VVP, GMA News