MANILA – Thousands of people planned to march in the Philippine capital yesterday, trying to keep up the momentum of street protests against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a day after she survived an impeachment attempt.
Protesters ranging from left-wing militants and students to a small number of Catholic bishops planned several rallies, ignoring the government’s call to bury the hatchet after months of bitter feuding that has worried investors. Tens of thousands marched on Congress on Tuesday after lawmakers rejected impeachment complaints against Arroyo that accused her of rigging last year’s election as well as committing graft and human rights abuses.Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing.Analysts see little chance of another “people power” revolution following those in 1986 and 2001 because the protests have not attracted many middle class Filipinos and the influential Catholic Church has refused to take sides.But Arroyo’s foes have said they want to hold a “people’s tribunal” in the streets, where they said evidence against her cannot be suppressed as they allege it was in Congress.”Peaceful protests are guaranteed by the constitution, rallies should not be prohibited,” Francis Escudero, the leader of opposition forces in the lower house, told local radio.Priests, students, civil society groups, leftist activists and supporters of former president Joseph Estrada planned to march near the presidential palace yesterday, organisers said.Former president Corazon Aquino and Susan Roces, the widow of last year’s beaten presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., were expected to join a separate rally being held by evangelist preacher Eddie Villanueva.Tuesday’s rally, which was also attended by Aquino and Roces, appeared much larger than a police estimate of 6 000 to 7 000 but smaller than the biggest recent protest of around 40 000 in July.A group of lawyers said they planned to open a new front against Arroyo by asking the Supreme Court to rule against the handling of the impeachment charges by Congress, which is dominated by Arroyo’s allies.- Nampa-ReutersTens of thousands marched on Congress on Tuesday after lawmakers rejected impeachment complaints against Arroyo that accused her of rigging last year’s election as well as committing graft and human rights abuses.Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing.Analysts see little chance of another “people power” revolution following those in 1986 and 2001 because the protests have not attracted many middle class Filipinos and the influential Catholic Church has refused to take sides.But Arroyo’s foes have said they want to hold a “people’s tribunal” in the streets, where they said evidence against her cannot be suppressed as they allege it was in Congress.”Peaceful protests are guaranteed by the constitution, rallies should not be prohibited,” Francis Escudero, the leader of opposition forces in the lower house, told local radio.Priests, students, civil society groups, leftist activists and supporters of former president Joseph Estrada planned to march near the presidential palace yesterday, organisers said.Former president Corazon Aquino and Susan Roces, the widow of last year’s beaten presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., were expected to join a separate rally being held by evangelist preacher Eddie Villanueva.Tuesday’s rally, which was also attended by Aquino and Roces, appeared much larger than a police estimate of 6 000 to 7 000 but smaller than the biggest recent protest of around 40 000 in July.A group of lawyers said they planned to open a new front against Arroyo by asking the Supreme Court to rule against the handling of the impeachment charges by Congress, which is dominated by Arroyo’s allies.- Nampa-Reuters
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