Akbayan backs whistle-blowers, to stage rally Monday

In a show of support to whistle-blowers in the plunder case against Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retired Major General Carlos Garcia — the former military comptroller — party-list Akbayan is set to stage a rally Monday in Philcoa, Quezon City Truth advocates will start staging the "creative" rally — dubbed as "Whistle for the Brave Whistle-blowers" — at around 10 a.m., bringing with them oversized whistles, noise paraphernalia, and colorful posters, Akbayan said in a statement Sunday. Rallyists will blow whistles and give some to passersby and motorists signifying “people's support" to former state auditor Heidi Mendoza and former AFP budget officer retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa, who exposed corrupt practices in the military. "We give our utmost support to the brave whistle-blowers that dared expose the gargantuan corruption inside the military. We laud them for their courageous efforts and as such, Akbayan together with the Filipino people will match it with the same act of bravery not only to expose the truth but also to hold those involved responsible," former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros said in a statement. The rally will be the first in a series of "truth actions" Akbayan will hold in support of Mendoza and Rabusa, she added. "We are currently talking to other reform-oriented groups and social movements in launching a series of protest actions in support of the whistle-blowers and the pursuit of truth and justice. We are [also] calling on the public to participate in these events," Hontiveros said. The former party-list lawmaker is urging the Aquino administration to be decisive on the issue. "Sawa na ang mga tao sa puro imbestigasyon. Panahon na para managot sa kanilang mga kasalanan sina Garcia, [former AFP chief Angelo] Reyes, lalo na si [ex-President Gloria] Arroyo at Ombudsman [Merceditas] Gutierrez. Let the ax fall where it may." Last Friday, civil society groups and students from the Ateneo de Manila University held a noise barrage outside the campus on Katipunan Avenue in support of Mendoza and Rabusa. — With Jesse Edep/VS, GMA News