Ogie Alcasid urges people to rally vs corruption: 'Hindi pwedeng puro galit lang'
OPM icon Ogie Alcasid
OPM icon Ogie Alcasid has encouraged the public to rally against corruption.
During a media conference in Quezon City, Ogie expressed his and his wife Regine Velasquez's frustration and anger regarding the anomalies found in the anti-flood fund, which revealed corrupt practices.
Ogie said that he will attend the rally against corruption on Sunday, Sept. 21. His wife, Regine, and son, Nate, will not join him, but he will attend the mass action.
"Regine will stay home and cook for us so that when we arrive, we will have something to eat. Nate is sick, and I hope he gets better," he said.
Ogie mentioned that he and his wife pay their taxes responsibly.
Despite the anomalies, Ogie said that everyone needs to pay taxes.
"It's in the Bible. We need to pay taxes kahit na ano pa ang mangyari. It is our obligation," the OPM president said.
Ogie emphasized that we must demonstrate our intolerance for these illegal practices.
"We need to show up and tell them that this is affecting us," he said. "It's very frustrating, and nakakalungkot (sad). Pero hindi pwedeng puro galit lang. Magpakita tayo ng pagkakaisa. Aki nakikinita ko na maraming tao ang lalabas. Maraming tao ang pupunta. At hinihikayat ko rin yung iba na sana (pumunta). Sunday naman. (But it can't just be anger. Let's show unity. I can see that many people will come out. Many people will go. And I encourage others to (go). It's Sunday)," he also said.
Ogie mentioned that he watches snippets of the Senate hearing regarding the anomalies related to anti-flood measures. "I watch the interesting portions."
The "Nandito Ako" singer stated that this is not his first time participating in a mass action. When he studied at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna, he would attend rallies on EDSA in the 1980s.
"Pupunta talaga ako ng EDSA to attend rallies. Then uuwi uli ako ng Los Banos. Ganun ang nakagawian ko. (I'm actually going to EDSA to attend rallies. Then I'll go back home to Los Banos. That's my habit)," he added.
Ogie, 58, expressed hope that solutions will be found for the current crisis.