In solidarity with the Million People March against pork barrel in Manila, Southern California Filipino-Americans held protests in front of Janet Napoles’ property at the Ritz-Carlton and at the Philippine Consulate in downtown Los Angeles.

“Today, we’re seeing Filipinos around the world unite against corruption. We feel that healthcare, education, and other social services, such as the defense of OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) rights, are not being adequately addressed by the  Philippine government, which is full of corrupt officials. This affects us, as well as our friends and relatives,” said Kuusela Hilo of the International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS), which led the protest at the Ritz-Carlton.

At first, the Ritz-Carlton building security  became concerned that the protest was being held against the hotel, but allowed the protest after finding out about the issue. “The protest is fine outside of the hotel; that is not part of the property,” said a hotel security aide.

The Fil-Am protesters believe that any sort of ‘justice’ will only be achieved if Filipinos around the world unite.

“We stand in solidarity and in protest of decades-long pork barrel graft and corruption,” Jolo Buktaw of Rosewood United Methodist Church said.

All Fil-Am organizations called for an abolition of the pork barrel system, and a public investigation and prosecution of all lawmakers and individuals involved in the pork barrel scam.

The Fil-Ams also emphasize that they are in the US due to forced migration, a result of social injustices in the Philippines, including corruption.

“As a Fil-Am, I am affected because I had to migrate to the US due to the lack of job opportunities in the Philippines. We try to fight the loneliness, the uncertainty of working abroad and leaving our family behind only to find out our remittances are not used to help the people, but rather used for corruption,” said Lolita Lledo, Associate Director of Filipino Workers Center in Los Angeles.

An American bystander moved by the protest joined the Fil-Ams in front of the Ritz-Carlton. “People are coming together to help each other,” said Robert Woods of the Brotherhood Foundation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Consul General of Los Angeles Daniel Espiritu joined organizers at the protest in front of the Philippine Consulate. He called on the support and unity of the Filipino people.

The protestors expressed their outrage and called on President Aquino to divest himself of his own pork barrel, estimated to be around P1-Trillion.

“I do not see hope in this type of system that’s getting worse…We have to be vocal, show the disgust and encourage Filipinos to speak up,” said Ren Arrieta, a Fil-Am photographer.

“Pork barrel should be scrapped entirely because it’s a source of corruption. You can’t trust legislators and their cohorts like Napoles, who owns more than 20 houses while workers in the Philippines are not given the right wages,” Fe Koons of Affirm Southbay said.