Estrada scores 'Jericho’ organizers

President Estrada slammed yesterday organizers of last Thursday’s so-called "Jericho march" meant to press him to step down.

The President charged that the marchers brought along schoolchildren who were being "brainwashed and politicized" instead of being allowed to attend their classes.

He was unaware that his supporters also brought along children, some of them toddlers, to their rally yesterday.

Mr. Estrada blamed the organizers of the Jericho march for causing the economic crisis, reiterating that their continuing protest actions created an impression of political instability in the country before the international community.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Mr. Estrada cited his earlier order to Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez to disallow the herding of schoolchildren to protest rallies and demonstrations.

Organizers of the rally, held shortly before Thursday’s opening of the impeachment trial at the Senate, were headed by former President Corazon Aquino, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, former Speaker Manuel Villar Jr., Laguna Gov. Jose Lina and a number of business leaders.

Mr. Estrada reiterated his accusations that the protest moves against him were being bankrolled by the "elite of Makati" who wanted him out of office.

He indicated that the rallies, general strikes and demonstrations meant to oust him were stunting the country’s economic growth.

The President appealed again to his critics and detractors to let the impeachment process against him take its due course instead of pursuing their protest actions.

Mr. Estrada has said no number or magnitude of rallies can force him to step down.

At the same time, the Chief Executive expressed confidence he would be acquitted in the impeachment trial.

"Our Constitution mandates that I perform the duties of the Chief Executive until the year 2004 and I have no intention of defying that mandate. I promised a much better life for our people, especially the poor, and I intend to keep that promise," he said.

Meanwhile, Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino spokeswoman Vicky Garchitorena, one of the Jericho march organizers, scored Chief Superintendent Edgar Aglipay, director of the National Capital Region Police Office, for preventing the marchers from passing by the Senate building at the reclamation area in Pasay City in violation of an earlier agreement.

"General Aglipay agreed on our plan after several days of negotiations. Yet when the time came, he reneged on our agreement and barricade our path with riot policemen," Garchitorena said.

Aglipay clarified, however, that he stopped the march upon the order of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who feared that the marchers could disrupt the impeachment proceedings.

Garchitorena said they would resume their protest moves on Monday. – With Nestor Etolle, Perseus Echeminada