Manila: Thousands of students, musicians, church and workers’ groups joined a third anti-corruption rally at Manila’s central Luneta Park, forcing President Benigno Aquino to move for the total eradication of a system that allocates development funds to the highest and lowest level of government officials.

“Let’s make a noise,” was the theme of the organisers of the protest rally that was also called “Rage against Pork (barrel)”.

The event, which included art exhibits, performances, concert, and ecumenical messages from Catholic and non-Catholic religious leaders, was also “politically serious,” said May One Movement chair Elmer Labog.

Militant workers are “very angry” that the alleged mastermind of the siphoning of development fund, Janet Lim-Napoles was given special treatment by President Aquino when she surrendered to him and he escorted her to a military camp last week, said Labog, adding this special treatment continues to expose that Aquino’s “anti-corruption rhetoric is hypocritical”.

She has been identified as the mastermind in the laundering of P10 billion (Dh833 million) development fund of congressmen and senators, through fake projects and non-existing non-government organisations, from 2010 to 2013.

“Workers and taxpayers are outraged by the prevalent corruption under his administration,” said Labog, adding his group will continue calling for the abolition of all forms of “pork” for all elected government officials.

“All religious groups believe that holding rallies will pressure the government to heed the call of the people for the total abolition of the pork barrel, may it be congressional or presidential,”

said Father Marlon Lacal, co-executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP).

President Aquino had called for the removal of the allocation of development funds to lawmakers, but this was not removed from the 2014 budget, complained Father Joe Dizon, adding, “Nothing was resolved. That’s why the people are not satisfied.”

The protest rally’s concert that was attended by famous rock stars and 20 bands attracted students at Manila’s university belt, said Father Dizon.

Apart from that “Catholic schools have allowed their students to attend,” he said, explaining the popularity of the event.

Last Monday, a protest rally cum lecture and prayer vigil was held at EDSA Shrine on EDSA in suburban Mandaluyong.

Thousands attended the first simultaneous anti-corruption rally at Luneta Park, in the provinces and in Filipino communities abroad last August 26.