Big rally to greet Erap trial opening

Will the walls of Jericho come tumbling down?

Anti-Estrada protesters plan to surround the Senate this afternoon to demand President Estrada’s conviction as 21 senators begin the Chief Executive’s historic impeachment trial.

The demonstrators will march to the Senate at 3:15 p. m. and try to encircle the Senate building in what their leaders call the "Jericho March."

Organizers said the rallyists will try to re-enact the Biblical march of Joshua and the Israelites around the walled city of Jericho, which was considered as a symbol of military power and strength.

The city’s fortified walls later collapsed following the triumphant shouts and blowing of ram’s horns by the marchers, the organizers added.

Organizers said once the Senate has been completely surrounded by demonstrators, a protester will climb down a truck draped in yellow and bearing the words "Jericho March," and light a torch placed on the Senate steps.

However, Superintendent Manuel Cabigon, Southern Police District director, warned rallyists yesterday that police will not permit the demonstrators to surround the Senate building.

"That won’t be allowed," he told reporters yesterday. "The march will not happen. We will secure the Senate grounds."

Cabigon, who is ground commander for Senate security, said around 1,000 policemen will be deployed to barricade the Senate grounds, in addition to the 200 Marines regularly assigned to the building’s perimeter security.

Hours before the Senate trial begins, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin will light the Olympic-style torch – which he describes as "the flame of truth" – during a prayer rally at Plaza Rajah Sulaiman fronting Our Lady of Remedies Church in Malate, Manila.

"We must win this fight for morality in public office by the grace of God and our bravery," he said.

Sin said the torch would remain in "vigil" outside the Senate, and that he would only extinguish the flame after Mr. Estrada steps down.

"We must pray very hard for the President," he said. "It is only in the light of the spirit of love for God and Country that he will be able to see the value of resignation."

Mel Robles, spokesman for the Catholic fellowship El Shaddai, said the charismatic movement will take part in this morning’s Mass for Martyrs at Our Lady of Remedies Church on Sin’s invitation.

However, Robles said the flock of Bro. Mike Velarde will not join the rally outside the Senate this afternoon nor the "Jericho March" that intends to surround the Senate with demonstrators.

Fr. Robert Reyes, an anti-Estrada priest, said yesterday the rallyists will blow ram’s horns while matching toward the Senate to "instill fear" in Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. – the trial’s presiding judge – the 11 prosecutors of the House of Representatives, the 21 senators – the trial’s judges – and Mr. Estrada’s lawyers.

"We call upon God to bring down the walls of evil, immorality, graft and corruption, greed, lust for power, deception, falsehood, pride selfishness, and all works of darkness," he said.

At 7 a. m., various groups will assemble in front of the Manila Hotel and the Museo Pambata along Roxas Boulevard, and the Manila Zoo on Harrison street in Manila before marching to Plaza Rajah Sulaiman where a prayer rally will be held in the morning.

Sin will celebrate Mass at Plaza Rajah Sulaiman as a prelude for anti-Estrada marchers to proceed to the Senate at the head of a truck draped in yellow.

After the Mass, former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, along with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will give speeches to rally the anti-Estrada protesters.

Rally organizers said bells will be rung in all Catholic Churches nationwide at 2 p.m. today, the start of the impeachment trial of President Estrada.

Manila police director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. told reporters yesterday 1,000 policemen will maintain peace and order at Plaza Rajah Sulaiman and help in directing traffic and managing parking.

Razon said Roxas Boulevard, M. H. del Pilar, A. Mabini and Adriatico streets will be closed to traffic during the rally and all vehicles would be detoured to Taft Avenue.

Metro Manila police commander Director Edgar Aglipay said anti-riot policemen will secure the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, Parañaque and Pedro Gil (Herran) street in Paco, Manila, which will be rallying points of anti-Estrada demonstrators.

In Davao City, more than 10,000 people will take to the streets and hold a rally at Rizal Park today to mark the start of Mr. Estrada’s impeachment trial.

The protest actions in Mindanao will include the symbolic "five minutes of darkness" in which lights will be put off throughout the island.

Marchers in Davao City plan to hold a "mass sitdown" on the streets for 15 to 20 minutes before heading to Rizal Park.

Teachers defy Gonzalez

Public school teachers will join this afternoon’s anti- Estrada rally outside the Senate in defiance of a government order that they avoid mass actions.

However, Franz Castro, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) spokesman, told reporters yesterday they would not lead any boycott of classes.

"We will not walk out of the classrooms," he said. "It is our right to express our grievances. We cannot be prevented from participating in any mass action. Not because we are public school teachers can the government suppress this right."

Castro said members of the 100,000-strong ACT are complaining of a government crackdown on teachers joining rallies calling for President Estrada’s resignation.

"As teachers, we have to be knowledgeable about current events," he said. "And there is nothing wrong if we fight for what we believe is right."

The action of Castro and ACT defies an order of Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez that public teachers should not engage in partisan political activities.

However, Castro said Gonzalez’s directive is a means of curtailing the freedom of expression of teachers.

Students join rally

Heads of Catholic schools will also defy Gonzalez and urged high school and college students to take part in today’s prayer rally at Plaza Rajah Sulaiman in Malate, Manila.

Monsignor Gerardo Santos, chairman of the Archdiocesan Cathechetical Ministry and superintendent of the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA), said he had urged Catholic school administrators to suspend classes today to allow students, teachers, and employees to take part in the commemoration of the martyrdom of Christians during World War II.

"I highly encourage that schools undertake a thorough program on the issues and the moral principles pertaining to the situation and parents’ consent be part of student attendance. I consider this as part of our role to catechize and to form a social conscience in school communities," he said.

Santos said Gonzalez’s order is "ill-timed" and a veiled threat against parents, teachers, and school employees who would like to join the rally today.

On the other hand, Fr. Roderick Salazar Jr., president of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), said they would leave the decision on whether to suspend classes to heads of schools.

"They are the best judges on whether their schools should or should not hold classes is order to participate in one or the other activities," he said.

"While we leave it to the heads of schools to decide what rallies their schools may join, we suggest that when CEAP schools in a particular area do participate, they group together as CEAP. This should contribute not just to identification, but to the feeling of unity and cohesion."

Erap sons in rally?

Mr. Estrada said yesterday his young sons by former starlet Laarni Enriquez are being forced by teachers at the Catholic-run Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan to attend rallies against him

"Teachers threatened to give them ‘zero’ in quizzes if they do not take part in rallies," the President complained. "They are told that those who attend the rallies will be exempted from taking tests. Even the studies of the children are affected."

Last Saturday, Mr. Estrada ordered Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez to ban teachers and school administrators from taking elementary and high school students to "prayer rallies," which turn out to be anti-Estrada demonstrations.

The President said he has received complaints from parents that school administrators and teachers of certain public and private schools are requiring students to attend rallies to call for his resignation.

"In case any untoward incident happens in these rallies, are they (teachers) answerable to the safety of these innocent children?" he asked. "Why will they drag the innocent children to these rallies and demonstrations?"

Mr. Estrada said he is concerned that the communists may take advantage of the situation and create trouble so the police would be blamed.

"At least spare the children, spare the children, have pity on them," he said. – Nestor Etolle, Sandy Araneta, Non Alquitran, Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Marichu Villanueva, Liberty Dones, Romel Bagares, Mike Frialde, Aurea Calica, Edith Regalado