Philippine protest against 'pork barrel' fund goes off peacefully

An estimated 100,000 people protested peacefully against government largesse Monday at a waterfront park in Manila, officials day. The "Million People March to Luneta" called on the national government to abolish a development account criticized as a "pork barrel" fund, inquirer.net reported. Gatherings in at least 12 other cities around the archipelago supported the campaign against the Priority Development Assistance Fund. The lack of disturbances at Luneta Park, in downtown Manila, did not surprise Marcelo Garbo, chief superintendent of the National Capital Region Police Office. "We already expected that because the issue here concerns the whole Filipino people," he said. The fund, known as the "pork barrel," became a public target after revelations earlier this year of billions of pesos from the fund, intended for small-scale or community projects, had been used as kickbacks to lawmakers. More than 700 marshals and nearly 60 police officers had been stationed at the Manila demonstration site and at least 4,000 officers from the capital police force had been deployed. No incidents were reported.