Opposition holds Mass near Palace

Just 200 meters away from the gates of Malacañang, 50 leaders and members of the United Opposition (UNO) held a special Mass at the San Miguel Parish Church and reiterated their call for the setting up of a caretaker council to replace President Arroyo.

Led by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, the group entered the church on General Solano at 2:30 p.m. as Manila Police District anti-riot personnel and fully-armed members of the Presidential Security Group kept a close watch.

Among the opposition leaders who attended the special Mass officiated by Fr. Larry Faraon were former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, former Sen. Francisco Tatad, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales, former Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Makati City Rep Agapito "Butz" Aquino, Sandra Cam, Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna, actor Rez Cortez, and former Agriculture Secretary Salvador Escudero.

After the Mass, opposition leaders gathered in front of the church and waved flags and unfurled a banner calling for the setting up of a caretaker council that would hold snap elections.

"Today we’re outside Malacañang, tomorrow we will be inside Malacañang," Maceda shouted.

Sotto said majority of the people do not believe in the legitimacy of the Arroyo government. They also believe that the administration is corrupt.

"We chose this church because it’s closer (to the Palace) so maybe they (Arroyo administration) would be able to hear us. Second, the church’s patron saint is St. Michael the Archangel,  is close to God. He was the one asked by God to slay the minions of Lucifer," Sotto said.

"He (St. Michael) might tell God ‘Boss, please listen to the plea of Filipinos," he said.

Sotto said snap elections would prove whether Mrs. Arroyo won in the last elections or not.

The opposition leaders distributed press statements saying they do not favor the President stepping down and having Vice President Noli de Castro take her place.

"Setting up a caretaker council whose primary mandate is to ensure the holding of credible elections at the soonest possible time is the only recourse for our beleaguered country," the statement said.