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| "Bungkalizing" Quirino Grandstand grounds. Photo: Thinking Pinoy |
Perhaps as the 2016 election approaches in a couple of days, government is now reaching the peak of some kind of deep insanity collectively plaguing its political operators?
The following post from former DILG Secretary now running for Senator in the May 9 elections (vote for him pls) went viral:
May 6, 2016 at 10:19pm ·
I was in Imus earlier today and received news that the Rizal Park grounds were "bungkalized" - in other words, the place was overturned by a backhoe. On my way home this evening I decided to inspect the grounds.
What I saw confirmed the report. The people setting up the stage said it happened before they arrived yesterday. A grader tried to correct the problem but what's needed is a pison. The pictures tell the story. I leave it to you to conclude who and why.
Now, who'd ever thought of back-hoeing a national park, sacred ground to freedom-loving Filipinos just because of fears it would be occupied by a million or so Filipinos for the conduct of a popular presidential candidate's final miting de avance?
Government-paid workers transformed overnight the Quirino Grandstand grounds at the Rizal Park, site of many major historic events including the visit of Pope Francis in January 2014 - from a compact ground into a vast farmland.
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| That's the mobile stage being set up. Photo: Rascille Laranas |
Presidential candidate Rody Duterte who was at the Marinduque grand rally last Thursday for the final leg of his campaign sorties has decided to rest a day before the Luneta rally.
In Marinduque, a related incident happened when a permit was earlier issued for the use of the Marinduque State College grounds by Duterte rally organizers who have decorated the venue.
Said permit was 'overruled' by the board of trustees, read here.
The venue was then moved to the People's Park in Gasan that was filled to capacity, watch video here).
Occupying Luneta
In Marinduque, a related incident happened when a permit was earlier issued for the use of the Marinduque State College grounds by Duterte rally organizers who have decorated the venue.
Said permit was 'overruled' by the board of trustees, read here.
The venue was then moved to the People's Park in Gasan that was filled to capacity, watch video here).
Occupying Luneta
Supporters, all set for today's "Occupy Luneta" rally are calling the "bungkalizing" a desperate move by those in power.
Duterte fans from nearby provinces who are preparing for the rally may not have an easy time standing or sitting on loosened topsoil for hours, more so if it rains which could turn the place into a muddy mess.
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| A related post from Thinking Pinoy |
The move is thus seen as a desperate move to discourage people from going to Luneta. One has yet to read or watch a report by mainstream media about the incident.
Or it may probably be treated as something not newsworthy as usual?
Symbol or sign
But this act could possibly go down in Philippine history as the lasting symbol of an administration's imagined 'unsurpassed accomplishments'. or as a clear sign of someone's long-rumored mental aberration.
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| Ready for planting corn and vegetables? Photo: Rascille Laranas |
This back-hoeing business (who could possibly have master-minded to destroy a rally site?), has, of course, angered netizens.
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| In days sober the Luneta grounds look like this. Photo: Joanne Mina |
A screenshot of comments posted on Facebook follows: (From WinViral.ph. 14 hours after posting generated 16,708 shares and about 3,000 comments)
