EDSA protesters form human chain

In the Philippines, protest takes many forms.

Last night it took the form of a glow-in-the-dark,10-kilometer line of people who formed a human chain from the Ninoy Aquino monument on Ayala Avenue in Makati City to the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City.

Thousands of people, most of them holding up lighted candles, formed the chain.

Monsignor Ding Coronel of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines took the hand of the last person in the chain.

Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin arrived at the EDSA Shrine at 6 last night. Plans for former President Corazon Aquino and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to join Sin at the site were cancelled at the last minute for security reasons.

Frank Padilla, director of the Catholic fellowship Couples for Christ, said they formed the human chain to symbolize the "people’s unity and solidarity" in demanding for Mr. Estrada’s resignation.

"Go to EDSA," Sin told the demonstrators earlier in the afternoon. "Stay at EDSA. Keep watch and pray."

In 1986, people calling for the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos stopped Marine tanks in their tracks on the historic stretch near the corner of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA or Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, where the shrine now stands.

Sin asked some 300,000 anti-Estrada activists yesterday to shun violence. A confrontation with pro-Estrada demonstrators at Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge just across Malacañang, planned for today, was postponed.

"All forms of violence must be shunned. The only way... is peace," Sin told the huge crowd.

Pro-Estrada students reportedly chased anti-Estrada activists from the Chino Roces Bridge up to the nearby University of the East campus on Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila.

Police Officer I Modesto Francisco told The STAR yesterday some 1,500 pro-Estrada rallyists remained entrenched at the foot of the bridge as of yesterday afternoon.

In contrast to Sin’s stand, Archbishop of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal appealed to the people to "remain neutral" in the present political crisis and adhere to the "constitutional process," ABS-CBN television reported yesterday.

However, the television station did not show any video footage of Vidal making the statement nor did it play an audio tape recording of the Cebu archbishop’s voice.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Cebu refused to confirm the report, while the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines refused to comment until the arrival of Archbishop of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo, CBCP president.

‘Opposition ready for next phase’

Ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda, presidential spokesman for the impeachment trial, disclosed yesterday that the opposition and Makati business groups are now ready for the next phase of their "destabilization campaign"– bank runs, business closures, and suspension of classes.

Maceda, however, said in a fax statement from the United States that the government is confident the anti-Estrada rallies cannot be sustained because of lack of valid issues.

Maceda said the prosecutors from the House of Representatives resigned to prevent Mr. Estrada’s lawyers from refuting the allegations against him and to leave the public with only one side of the charges.

"I thought they have a mountain of evidence against President Erap." the statement read. "Why the rallies and angry protests? The Senate vote is really a minor thing on their part."

Maceda will be back next week afte representing Mr. Estrada in the inauguration of US President-elect George W. Bush tomorrow.

At Malacañanag, acting Press secretary Mike Toledo told reporters yesterday the government will maintain the policy of "maximum tolerance" toward the anti-Estrada rallyists, and that they will not be stopped from marching to the Palace.

"Of course, we will make sure security will be well-placed to ensure, of course, no life or property will be unduly put in danger," he said. "That’s why, we call upon the organizers of these rallies to marshall their own ranks and to make sure that the rights of others are not violated."

Fr. Mario Sobrejuanita, CBCP vice president, told reporters yesterday Catholic priests have also taken different stands on the impeachment of Mr. Estrada.

Sobrejuanita said the priesthood is not entirely "sold out" on Sin’s call for the Chief Executive to step down as demanded by anti-Estrada protesters on EDSA.

Sobrejuanita said some priests believe that the Constitution must be "allowed to take its natural course," and that the impeachment trial must continue to determine the Chief Executive’s guilt or innocence.

Frank Padilla, director of the Catholic fellowship Couples for Christ, told reporters yesterday the "human chain" lasted for 10 minutes and that the rallyists were silent for a minute of prayer.

"This is a wake-up call to everyone concerned," he said. "We’re here till Erap lets go. I believe that all of them (rallyists) are committed at least at heart."

Padilla said the "human chain" passed through Ayala Avenue in front of the Peninsula Manila Hotel and the Ritz Tower through the corner of Ayala and EDSA, Estrella street and San Carlos Seminary along EDSA, through Guadalupe Bridge, Boni Avenue, Libertad street, Polymedic Hospital, Shaw Boulevard and Berkley street along EDSA, until finally reaching the corner of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA.

The CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA) warned yesterday that the Catholic Church will call for the escalation of anti-Estrada mass actions until the Chief Executive resigns.

The NASSA statement said this includes "diocesan-wide prayer vigils, boycott of crony firms, a tax boycott campaign among parishioners, as well as support for non-violent civil disobedience activities such as noise barrage, labor strikes, work stoppages, farmer-initiated countryside protests, urban poor, Erap Resign Community assemblies and other mass actions all over the Philippines."

Militant groups answer Sin call

Members of three militant groups assembled in front of the EDSA Shrine yesterday in answer to Sin’s call for a vigil at the historic thoroughfare to force Mr. Estrada to step down.

Crispin Beltran, chairman of Kilusang Mayo Uno, told reporters yesterday militant groups will hold a massive "welgang bayan" (people’s strike) today.

"The fight is far from over," he said. "We guarantee (Mr.) Estrada that he is deluding himself if he thinks that the Filipino people will just sit back and accept his acquittal. The only solution is his ouster."

Beltran said they are convinced that the only way to "kick out" the Chief Executive is through a "show of force" by holding street demonstrations.

On the other hand, Joshua Mata, Akbayan spokesman, told reporters yesterday Mr. Estrada will soon be overthrown because he is slowly losing his supporters.

"Let’s see if he (Mr. Estrada) will last long in Malacañang," he said. "He is now isolated. An immoral president cannot deceive the poor forever."

Mata vowed militant protesters will not leave EDSA until Mr. Estrada answers all the charges against him as contained in the articles of impeachment which the prosecutors from the House of Representatives had filed before the Senate impeachment tribunal.

Nathaniel Santiago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chairman, told reporters yesterday they will not abandon their struggle until the Chief Executive resigns.

"And these are no longer new to us," he said. "We were there when the Filipino people called for the ouster of the dictator," he said.

Santiago said various Bayan-affiliated organizations held massive rallies in different cities and towns in at least 50 provinces nationwide.

Students and faculty members of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila, the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, and the University of the East In Caloocan City walked out of their classes yesterday to join the demonstrators in front of the EDSA Shrine.

The Department of Education, Culture and Sports reminded school officials yesterday of an order banning elementary and high school students from taking part in political rallies.

Laguna Gov. Joey Lina, who also heads the Kangkong Brigade, told reporters yesterday they expect more people to join the mass action in EDSA in the coming days.

"We appeal to all Filipinos to come here and be counted," he said. "We are making history. We’re back on the streets to fight for democracy."

A spokesman for the Concerned Women of the Philippines, one of the rally organizers, called for donations of food and beverages as they are expecting more people from the provinces.

Dinky Soliman of Kompil II told reporters yesterday they will hold a mock impeachment trial in front of the EDSA Shrine so the "whole story" will be known to the people.

"This time, we will not be denied the opportunity of exposing the criminal activities of (Mr.) Estrada before the Filipinos," she said.

In the pro-Estrada camp, Nilo Tamoria, spokesman of Katipunan ng Sambayanan (Kasambayan), told reporters yesterday pro-Estrada demonstrators are under instructions not to hurl stones in case of a confrontation with anti-Estrada groups.

"As a policy, we do not encourage our group to instigate violence," he said. "We want to discipline our ranks but there are unorganized groups who are joining us and we cannot control their anger."

Lawyer Robert Padilla, sectoral leader of Kasambayan, denied yesterday allegations by anti-Estrada rallyists that they are being paid to join mass actions in support of the Chief Executive.

"We did not receive a single centavo," he said "We go there as our sacrifice and if we ever distribute some food, it is from the limited funds we have."

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr. ordered all DILG regional directors yesterday to coordinate with local executives and police forces to maintain peace and order during anti-Estrada demonstrations.

"As part of our function, it is incumbent upon you to assist and closely coordinate with local authorities for the effective maintenance of peace and order in our localities," Santiago said.

Santiago called on anti-Estrada protesters to police their ranks and ensure that their actions will be peaceful, warning that the government will enforce the full force of the law against violators.

Meanwhile, Malacañang announced yesterday that the 15th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt will push through next month despite the anti-Estrada rallies. – With reports from Jose Rodel Clapano, Mike Frialde, Jose Aravilla, Marichu Villanueva, Romel Bagares, Wilfredo Suarez