Palace warns pro-Estrada supporters

President Arroyo warned yesterday supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada against holding street protests calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court justices.

"The government shall not tolerate any attempt to bring this case from the purview of the court, where it rightfully belongs, to the courtroom of the streets," she said in a statement.

"I am forsworn to uphold the Constitution and I must warn those who are destabilizing it that they will face the full force of the law," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she will not allow anarchy to "override the pursuit of justice" or erode the foundations of the country’s democratic system.

"I shall preserve the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court and constitutional separation of powers," she said.

The warning followed a rash of pro-Estrada protests around the Supreme Court building and outside the homes of Chief Justice Hilario Davide and several other members of the 15-seat tribunal.

Police have since been deployed to secure these places. But women supporters of Estrada picketed the Supreme Court along Padre Faura street in Manila yesterday to demand that Davide resign.

Members of the Pwersa ng Kababaihan accused Davide and other high court justices of violating the Constitution when they installed Mrs. Arroyo to the presidency in place of Estrada on Jan. 20, 2001.

Manila police director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong told the demonstrators to first get a permit from City Hall before they could be allowed to hold a rally.

However, a spokesman for the group said they need not get a permit because they were holding a "peaceful" rally and that they did not intend to cause trouble.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters Mrs. Arroyo was getting concerned over the renewed agitation of pro-Estrada demonstrators following the filing of an impeachment complaint against Davide and other justices before the House of Representatives.

"Right now, the concern is if we should be able to implement the laws," he said. "What is happening is already outside the freedom that are guaranteed by the laws and this is practically tantamount to anarchy."