Farmers, businessmen share adobo vs Estrada

Thousands of workers, farmers and business people gathered yesterday in Makati City to share food and call for the resignation of President Estrada over corruption allegations.

The rallyists were on their way to Chino Roces (Mendiola) Bridge in Manila, which is across Malacañang, and had stopped over at the Ayala Towers near the statue of Ninoy Aquino for the "people power lunch" of chicken adobo and rice at the invitation of the Makati Business Club.

Volunteers from posh villages had prepared 4,000 packed lunches in coordination with village associations in Dasmariñas Village and Forbes Park in Makati; Greenhills in San Juan, and Valle Verde and Xavierville in Quezon City.

At least 7,000 students, union activists, and professionals marched to Malacañang yesterday following a giant papier mache lizard, which they called "Erapzilla," coined from the President’s nickname and the monster movie "Godzilla."

Press Secretary Ronaldo Puno urged the protesters to "cease from these activities because they adversely affect our economy."

He said Filipinos should put their trust in the Senate being able "to move objectively, impartially and fairly in the direction of a fair conclusion" to the Dec. 7 impeachment trial, which could lead to the President’s ouster.

The protests came a day after the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, denied an appeal from the President’s lawyers to dismiss the corruption charges against him on technical grounds.

In Quezon City, pro-Estrada protesters on board at least 60 cars held a motorcade from the Quezon Memorial Circle near City Hall all the way to Coastal Road in Las Piñas City to remind senators that the rule of law must prevail in Mr. Estrada’s impeachment trial.

Noel Calderon, spokesman for the group, told reporters the motorcade passed by Cubao in Quezon City, Baclaran in Parañaque, Coastal Road in Las Piñas, and Quezon Avenue before returning to Elliptical Road in front of Quezon City Hall.

"We are throwing our support to the senators to enable them to make a logical verdict and let the rule of law prevail and not the rule of men," he said.

Militant labor groups asked the Filipino-Chinese community yesterday to abandon the President and support the move for his ouster.

Members of Sanlakas and the Buklurang Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) made the call while performing the traditional Chinese dragon dance during a protest rally in Chinatown in Binondo.

However, instead of a dragon, the protesters used the guise of a crocodile, which many Filipinos believe to be the epitome of greed and corruption.

Party-list Rep. Renato Magtubo, Sanlakas president, told reporters members of the Filipino-Chinese community must open their eyes and realize that Mr. Estrada is "responsible for the bad luck" that has befallen the country.

"Open your eyes and join the movement to oust (President) Estrada and other traditional politicians," he said.

Magtubo said about 30,000 workers, urban poor, and other sectors will gather in at least 14 points in Metro Manila for the biggest anti-Estrada rally today.

On the other hand, Catholic priest Fr. Robert Reyes, a convenor of the Resign Estrada Movement, told reporters he had distributed brooms to heads of government agencies to urge them to help clean up the government.

Reyes said Cabinet members and other government officials should use the brooms to "sweep away the dirt of anomalies, scandals and graft and corruption" after they have resigned from the administration.

"This is a call to help put up a clean and honest government," he said.

Reyes said he and his group will stop by government offices on their way to Chino Roces where they will join their comrades in holding an anti-Estrada rally and vigil.

Superintendent Rey Castro, Northern Police District (NPD) operations chief, said he has deployed policemen to secure the vicinity of the Bonifacio Monument and the Light Rail Transit station in Caloocan City following the arrival of thousands of anti-Estrada rallyists from the provinces.

"We are hoping for the best, but we are preparing for the worst," he said.

On the other hand, NPD director Senior Superintendent Jose Marlowe Pedregosa sent five teams of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) out on the streets yesterday to prevent saboteurs from unleashing terrorist attacks.

Pedregosa said two firetrucks are ready to disperse demonstrators with water cannons if they become unruly and resort to violence.

Paramedics and an ambulance are also on standby for any emergency, he added.

Manila police director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. warned rallyists that they would be arrested and their vehicles impounded if they try to barricade major streets.

Most universities in Manila suspended classes yesterday, and some students decided to join the rally at Liwasang Bonifacio, while others reportedly remained at home or went to the malls.

More Pinoys now accept constitutional process

The impeachment court’s junking of the defense panel’s motion to dismiss has strengthened the people’s belief in the constitutional process, according to legislators representing different districts of the country.

Cagayan Rep. Edgar Lara said most of his constituents were satisfied with the decision on the motion filed by lawyers of President Estrada because the trial will proceed as scheduled and is expected to ease up the tense political situation.

"Mass action seeking Estrada’s resignation will surely lose steam after the Senate displayed impartiality and objectivity that was expected of them by the people," said Lara, who chairs the House committee on good government.

This was also the opinion of Rep. Heherson Alvarez (Lakas, Isabela), one of the oppositionists who endorsed the impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives.

For his part, Deputy Speaker Gerardo Espina (Lakas, Biliran) said more and more Filipinos will now surely see the wisdom of peacefully awaiting the results of the proceedings.

Espina appealed to Filipinos particularly those belonging to the country’s labor sector, who are taking an active part in mass movements, to have faith in the senators who now hold the President’s fate in their hands.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel said that the impeachment tribunal’s recent denial of the motion to dismiss will definitely lift the credibility of members belonging to the chamber who are serving as jurors in the unprecedented case.

"The decision to deny the defense’s motion was unanimous as the senators agreed that it would be better to thresh out the issues on a formal hearing instead of ending it without any evidence being adduced," said Pimentel.

For the defense’s part, former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa said that although they were disappointed with the negative result of the motion, they will not file an appeal and instead will prepare for the trial proper. – With reports fromJose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin, Pia Lee-Brago, Nestor Etolle, Pete Laude