Opposition steps up attacks vs GMA in Makati rally

An embattled President Arroyo faced mounting pressure yesterday to step down amid street rallies that drew several thousand people in the financial district of Makati City and calls by a Roman Catholic bishop for her to do more to address allegations that she rigged last year’s presidential election.

Although yesterday’s protest action, called by the usual mix of militant and opposition groups with supporters of disgraced former President Joseph Estrada, was the largest this week, it is still a fraction of the size of the people power uprisings that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Estrada in 2001.

Actress Susan Roces, who became the rallying point of the opposition following the death of her husband, presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., was conspicuously absent during the rally yesterday organized by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay who said it had a huge turnout.

Police said about 7,000 people initially turned up to join the rally but the crowd thinned out after Binay delivered a speech criticizing the President.

Mrs. Arroyo has undertaken a series of public-relations moves aimed at defusing the most serious crisis in her leadership, including giving a public apology for phoning an election official during last year’s vote count, accepting the resignation of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap who has been charged with tax evasion, and allowing her husband to go into exile.

Although she apologized for what she called "a lapse of judgment" when she talked to an election official about protecting a million-vote victory margin during the May 2004 election, Mrs. Arroyo denied meddling with the polls and has refused to heed calls to resign.

The influential archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Rosales, also entered the heated debate over Mrs. Arroyo’s conduct, saying in a statement that "despite expressions of regret, many remain angry, confused, hurt."

Without mentioning Mrs. Arroyo by name, Rosales said: "Forgiveness does not eliminate the need for justice, nor should it block the search for truth."

On the other hand, a group led by former defense secretary and retired general Fortunato Abat said if Mrs. Arroyo refuses to resign, she will be ousted and replaced by a 15-member "council of leaders" to serve as a transitional government while a new constitution is drafted.

It was unclear how much support the group enjoys, but Abat claimed he has followers among government officials and the military, which has so far backed Mrs. Arroyo.

The crisis has also unnerved the financial markets and caused the peso to slip.

Stoking fears of more public discontent, a new value-added tax took effect yesterday, sending fuel prices soaring and prompting the government to assure consumers it is putting in place "several mitigating measures."

Crunch Time

Malacañang denied being in a "panic mode" despite the apparent holding of daily "emergency Cabinet meetings" while mass actions are being held in the streets against Mrs. Arroyo.

The Palace released to the media several statements of support from various groups, including one from retired military and police officials, in an apparent attempt to counter vocal criticism of the President.

The Guardians International, a federation of groups composed mostly of former and active servicemen and policemen, expressed its full support to the leadership of the President and called on her to continue pursuing her reform agenda.

GI president Nestorio Gualberto, former chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said it is only in Metro Manila that "the voices of dissent and inflammatory language are unduly magnified" as against the majority of people soberly living in the countryside.

A Muslim princess, Bai a labi Bayolan Tamano-Marohombsar, also led several Muslim groups from Mindanao and other parts of the country in signing a covenant in support of Mrs. Arroyo.

"The President admitted she talked over the phone with a Comelec official to have her vote protected. This was an indiscretion for which she apologized. This is far different from cheating, an imaginary offense which her critics are foisting on the nation to further (their) destabilization campaign," she said.

Marohombsar claimed Muslims and Christians in Mindanao appreciate the economic programs initiated by Mrs. Arroyo to improve their living conditions.

Other local officials also sent letters of support for Mrs. Arroyo, Palace officials added.

Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said the protest rallies initiated by the opposition against Mrs. Arroyo were apparently meant to disturb the country’s peace and development.

"We have an economic program that attracts investments and these political disturbances ruin this. So what we should do is heed the call of (former President) Cory Aquino that we resolve (all grievances against the Arroyo administration) through constitutional and legal means," Saludo said.

Saludo explained the "emergency" Cabinet meetings are a normal daily occurrence.

He said the agenda of the meeting last night was the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that Mrs. Arroyo is set to deliver at the opening of Congress in July 25.

"We’re not in a panic mode, we are in governance mode. We have to work double-time so that all agencies can give their inputs on what the contents of the SONA would be. We also have to ensure that government programs are moving," Saludo said.

Saludo stressed the need to discuss various issues including the increase of oil prices and the effects of the expanded value-added tax in consumer goods and services.

The Palace official also denied demoralization among Cabinet members following the resignation of Yap last Thursdays.

Saludo said Yap’s resignation was personal and had nothing to do with the current political situation.

Yap had tendered his resignation last Thursday claiming he had to take time off and personally attend to the tax evasion case filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Authorities, on the other hand, warned protesters against being infiltrated by lawless elements.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol said there is a great possibility of communist New People’s Army guerrillas infiltrating the protest actions to sow terror and chaos. - With reports from Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Perseus Echeminada, AP