Bongbong: This time it won’t succeed

LAOAG CITY — This time, people power will not succeed.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said yesterday anti-Estrada rallyists will fail in ousting President Estrada through a people power revolt like the one that drove his family into exile in Hawaii in February 1986 because the Americans are not here to support them.

"It took the United States and its military to unseat my father," he said. "It will probably take the same to unseat Erap. And they (US) are not here supporting the opposition."

Marcos also chided Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin for making an alliance with the opposition, saying that he should be a politician.

"He wants to be a politician so badly, he should already be a politician," he said. "But he would not go far, he can only be a barangay captain."

In Manila, about 30,000 pro-Estrada demonstrators will hold a vigil at Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge across Malacañang to protect the President from the "mob of the rich."

Ronald Lumbao, president of the People’s Movement Against Poverty (PMAP) told The STAR yesterday they started massing at Chino Roces at 12:45 a.m. yesterday while anti-Estrada forces were gathering in front of the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

"The great mass of our people, especially the poor, remain supportive of the President," he said. "It is only the rich who are against him."

Some 150 anti-riot policemen were guarding the approach to Malacañang and a firetruck was on standby to help them disperse any mob.

Inspector Jesus Parajas, Chino Roces police station commander, told The STAR yesterday police will not allow anti-Estrada demonstrators to get near the bridge to prevent a clash between the two groups.

Parajas said an unidentified person inside nearby San Sebastian College threw a stone at the pro-Estrada demonstrators early yesterday morning.

"We don’t expect any major untoward incident," he said.

Outside the Senate, anti and pro-Estrada demonstrators traded insults and almost clashed if not for the intercession of anti-riot policemen.

Lumbao said the rallyists at Chino Roces went there voluntarily and that they reflect "the people’s true sentiments," whose objective is to erect a "protective ring" around Malacañang.

"We placed President Estrada in office, we will defend him," he said.

Lumbao said the demonstrators at EDSA belong mostly to the elite and that they have falsely accused the rallyists at Chino Roces of being "bayaran" (paid) and "hakot" (bused in).

"Just because we don’t have the stature of their speakers like (former President Corazon) Aquino and (Archbishop of Manila Jaime) Cardinal Sin, they are saying that our rallies are plain basura (garbage)."

The rallyists carried streamers with the message "Katarungan Para sa Pangulong Makamasa, Katarungan Para sa mga Mahihirap na Masa." (Justice for the Pro-Masses President, Justice for the Poor Masses), while others wore T-shirts with the word "REMAIN" or "Rebolusyon ng mga Mahihirap, Isulong Na!"

Nilo Tamoria, spokesman for the pro-Estrada Katipunan ng Sambayan (Kasambayan), called on anti-Estrada demonstrators to respect the rule of law and stop destablization moves against the government.

"It is very clear that the political opposition led by former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos in collusion with the anti-Erap businessmen led by the Makati Business Club and the leaders of the Catholic Church have only one agenda — an outright power grab from a legitimately elected president," he said.

Tamoria said the calculated move of the prosecutors to resign and walk out of the impeachment trial was a strategic ploy to destroy Mr. Estrada’s credibility.

"This is a perfect formula for lawlessness," he said "The President has not yet been given his day in court but the prosecution has already prejudged the case."

Tamoria said the so-called people power II will not succeed because the anti-Estrada groups are a mere minority — a voice of the few rich and some political leaders who have failed to uplift the lives of the ordinary Filipino.

"What kind of morality are they talking about?" he asked. "When former presidents Aquino and Ramos were in power they plundered billions of government funds; have they been held accountable for their crimes?"

Ernesto Refruto, spokesman for the Pambansang Diwa ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino, told The STAR yesterday stevedores at the Port of Manila have joined the pro-Estrada demonstration at Chino Roces.

"We voluntarily went there," he said. "We were not paid. Some of us have not yet had lunch at 2 p.m. Others paid for their food."

Refruto denied allegations that they were each paid P200 to take part in the pro-Estrada demonstration at Chino Roces Bridge across Malacañang.

Radio stations reported that some porters were still in their uniforms when they were "herded" to Chino Roces, where they were each handed P200. — With reports from Nestor Etolle, Mike Frialde, Jose Aravilla, Jerry Botial, and Rainier Allan Ronda