Veep to lead inter-faith rally

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. will lead several organizations in an inter-faith prayer rally in Plaza Miranda on Friday against a United States-led war on Iraq. The participants will come from various religious sectors, cause-oriented and peace-advocacy organizations opposing the planned US military strike against Iraq.

The gathering, National Day of Prayer Against War on Iraq, will be from 2 to 6 p.m.

Guingona said they chose Plaza Miranda because it symbolizes unity among people of different faiths since there is a mosque and Catholic church there. "We would also like to show our solidarity with groups of other nations who have demonstrated their cry for peace," Guingona said in a press conference.

Guingona said the rally is not a sign of protest against the American people, but only against Washington’s policy of war on Iraq. "We have nothing against the Americans. We have shared friendship with them for a span of 100 years. We are against the war. We are against the shapers of policy that has led to this situation," he said.

"The danger of war is becoming imminent," he added.

Among the groups expected to attend are: Bayan, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, the Episcopal Commission on Inter-religious Dialogue, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Icairos, Council of Churches in the Philippines, Bishops-Businessmen forum, Bagong Bandila, Moro-Christian People’s Alliance, Muslim Solidarity for the People of Iraq, Promotion of Church People’s Response, Justice not War on Coalition, and AKKAPKA.

Guingona said everyone is invited to the prayer rally, including President Arroyo.

The two officials have differing opinions on the US-led war on Iraq. President Arroyo has earlier committed humanitarian, political and logistics support to the US government once it decides to launch attack against Iraq.

Guingona, for his part, said he will reiterate his opposition against the war and government’s full support to the US when the National Security Council convenes.

"Our main concern is our 1.4 million Filipino workers. You can see from there their potential dislocation even if we just relocate them," he said.