MANILA — People were streaming into Luneta Park in Manila on Sunday morning for the "Bahain ang Luneta" protest there against alleged corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Director Joel Lamangan, who will be directing the program, said the morning protest will have many "interesting speakers and performers" on the two-stage setup.
Organizers earlier announced the program would include musicians, drag queens, Philippine Educational Theater Association, Concerned Artists of the Philippines and others.
Lamangan said the program is meant to "shake" government officials and contractors linked to substandard and non-existent flood control projects and remind them that they are wrong.
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"This is very important so that those people concerned na nangungurakot ng pera ng bayan ay malaman nila na ang tao ay di natutulog at nagagalit na sa kanilang ginagawa," he said, saying also that he has long been participating in protests.
(This is very important so that those people concerned who steal the people's money know that we are not asleep and that we are enraged by what they are doing)
"Bayad ako ng bayad ng taxes ko tapos ninanakaw ng ninanakaw pala nila," Lamangan added.
(I keep paying my taxes and it turns out it just gets stolen)
Investigations by the executive branch and by both chambers of Congress have found indications of widespread corruption in infrastructure projects.
Anger over the controversy has led to leadership changes at the Senate and House of Representatives as well as scattered protests across the country.
The Luneta protest is one of several large rallies scheduled for Sunday, which is also the anniversary of the signing of the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos, the sitting president's father.
"Matauhan na kayo, nagsasalita na ang taumbayan," Lamangan said in comments directed at those involved in corruption.
(Wake up, the people are already speaking) — from a report by Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News