Radyo5, Rappler spotlight public funds used in Bagong Pilipinas rally

CHEERS TO Radyo5 and Rappler for calling the people’s attention to the exorbitant cost of holding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s rally on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

Dubbed Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines,) the rally was described by the state-run Philippine Information Agency as “a social mobilization event” to formally launch its governance brand. The Bagong Pilipinas campaign was made official in 2023, when a memorandum from the Office of the President presented its logo and slogan. 

The whole-day affair at Quirino Grandstand in Manila included speeches from government officials, musical performances, and a fireworks display as government agencies provided services, such as processing of official documents, and distributing cash aid on the sidelines. The rally reportedly drew 400,000 people. News accounts quoted from the President’s speech, detailing other segments of the program, crowd estimates, and prominent officials who were present or notably absent.

Media accounts did not miss the shadow cast on the presidential program by the simultaneous rally led by the Dutertes in Davao City, with some reports describing Vice President Sara Duterte speaking to the crowds before the president arrived; after which, she left for Davao.    

Except for two news organizations, media left out of their reports how much the Malacañang-sponsored program cost taxpayers. 

Radyo5 interrogates PCO official 

The morning after the event January 29, Ted Failon of Ted Failon and DJ Cha Cha sa Radyo5, interviewed Joey Villarama, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the office which helmed the event. 

As Villarama resorted to a well-rehearsed script, repeating his responses, 

Failon kept his line of questioning sharp and focused, insisting on getting answers. He asked directly about how much public funds were spent for the event. Villarama said that he did not have that information but explained that the PCO followed procedure in budgeting for the function. Failon then cited a government document which stated that over PHP16 million pesos were already spent on equipment rentals. He observed how this excessive cost contradicted a key message of Marcos’ own speech. The president declared that under the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance, “bawal ang waldas,” (wasting money is not allowed). 

Failon also asked Villarama about the reported attendance requirement of government employees, presenting a prior interview with a different official as well as firsthand accounts from government employees and a memorandum order from the Department of Labor and Employment. 

Villarama attempted to dispute the evidence, arguing that government employees were merely “encouraged” to attend, and given that it was a “bureaucratic exercise” led by the president, government employees were expected to attend to ensure the campaign’s message reached its target. Failon rejected this excuse throughout the interview, calling out the “pilitan” (forced attendance) as an old and well-known government practice. 

Rappler highlights million-peso rally cost 

In a Jan. 30 report, reporter Dwight de Leon presented documents obtained by Rappler which showed purchases worth at least PHP15.9 million just for rental of tech equipment. Close to another million had been spent for printed materials, meals for 300 PCO attendees, and customized lanyards, the amount reached PHP16.4 million. 

The report went on to reveal over-spending that surpassed the project budget. It cited bid documents showing the allotted budget for giveaway items (t-shirts, caps, jackets, etc.) set at PHP7.5 million and PHP5.3 million for the program’s entertainment segments. The report noted that while the bid documents could not account for the final cost of the items, the documents showed additional costs to the PHP16.4 million already confirmed and showed up total expenses that surpassed PCO’s allocated  budget of PHP29 million. 

PR as distraction

As the event in Davao carried out its intent to reject charter change, the rally in Manila was all propaganda and PR, projecting the signs and symbols of Marcos Jr.’s presidency. The call to the “workforce” used language reminiscent of his father’s call for a New Society. Setting aside his usual laidback style on Sunday, Marcos Jr. let everyone know he can do shows galore as Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos did when they were in power. 

Cheers to journalists who are not easily distracted by “bread and circus” events. It helps for the media to track the documents and to follow the money – whoever is in charge. Media should do more checks on the money trail than had been done in the first two years of Marcos Jr. presidency.