Manila, Philippines – The United People’s Initiative (UPI) will hold a three-day protest rally from November 16-18 to call for “Accountability, Justice, and Integrity”, which will be held at the EDSA People Power Monument.
Although a religious group, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, will also hold a prayer rally in Manila on the same dates, UPI stated that they are not affiliated with them, but participants are welcome to join.
The UPI is composed of retired military, members of the religious sector, Muslim leaders, and middle-class Filipinos who, they say, are fed up with corruption.
The group specifically pointed out the victims of calamities and politicians who continuously steal public funds.
They also stated that they are not worried about their lives because they are only expressing their dismay and sentiment toward the government.
Legal Counsel and Retired BGEN. Virgillio Garcia stressed why only “small-time” individuals are being charged, and the names of politicians involved in anomalies and corruption are not being mentioned.
In a media briefing earlier, the President assured that names will be charged before Christmas this year.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) earlier confirmed the filing of rebellion and sedition cases against Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
Regarding the attendance at their protest rally, only three hundred thousand people are allowed to attend, based on the permit granted.
However, the group’s spokesperson, Atty. Melchor Magdamo, said they expect attendance to reach nearly one million, with participants coming from various parts of the country.
Magdamo also mentioned that the permit granted to them is only valid for one day.
When asked by the media earlier where the funds for the three-day rally would come from, UPI refused to provide details but stated that the funds came from their own pockets and that they are only helping other participants of the protest.