Groups plan march during Glo's SONA

Militant groups have vowed to mount "peaceful but noisier" rallies to push for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation before and when she delivers her State of the Nation Address on July 25.

Gabriella spokeswoman Kaira Alburo said at least 3,000 Cebuanos will join in a "people's march" on July 24 from the northern and southern towns of Cebu.

Alburo said that the march will start from Liloan in the north and from Minglanilla in the south. This will be composed of groups from different municipalities in the province who are tired of Arroyo's promises and repeated statement that she will not step down.

"It is not true that people are tired of going to the streets. We hope that they will allow us to exercise our freedom," Alburo said.

"Ms. Arroyo is missing the point. The cause of the breakdown of the economy is not the opposition that is trying to make noise, but her defective governance. She should heed the public clamor for her to resign," she added.

Alburo added that since Arroyo took power four years ago, the economy has been going down. "She wants to remain in power. But the people are already rejecting her governance. She has lost the moral high ground to govern and the people would no longer allow a cheating and corrupt president to rule this country," she said.

"We expect the more than 500 that came to the Malacañang rally to double or even reach up to 3,000 or more. We want GMA to hear the clamor of the people better and clearer," she added. - Jasmin R. Uy