MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 5) For the first time since 2005, militants on Monday stood at the foot of historic Mendiola Bridge on the approaches to Malacañang after marching from the Welcome Rotonda on the boundary of Manila and Quezon City.
Carrying placards saying “She’s evil,” and “Gloria is evil” on them, the rallyists called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign over allegations of corruption, highlighted by the controversy surrounding the $329 million national broadband network contract between the government and China’s ZTE Corp.
The “evil” references were to the alleged description of Arroyo by former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri at a meeting with two opposition senators in December last year.
The marchers inched their way along España where, reports said, traffic had been snarled.
Police estimate the crowd to be less than 1,000 but organizers claimed their number was between 2,000 and 3,000.
Manila Police District Chief Roberto Rosales said the rallyists would have to disperse by 6 p.m. “What is the point of getting a permit if they will not disperse, if they will stay beyond 6 p.m.?” he asked.
Seen at the gathering were former vice president Teofisto Guingona, Bayan Muna (People First) Representative Teodoro Casiño, Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Partylist Representative Crispin Beltran, Gabriela’s Luzviminda Ilagan, and former congressman Rafael Mariano.
Casiño said this was the first time since 2005 the rallyists have set foot at the historic bridge, now named after the late freedom icon Don Chino Roces, where many protests were once held before these were disallowed by local officials allied with Arroyo.
Guingona, who joined the rallyists as they left the Welcome Rotonda, told reporters Arroyo should speak more about the ZTE issue.
The former vice president of Arroyo issued the call a day after the President admitted knowing about the irregularities in the contract.
Guingona said Arroyo lost her “executive privilege” when she spoke about it Sunday.
“She should explain how much, why, and other details involving the ZTE contract. Neri should also speak out,” said Guingona.
Neri had been asked to endorse the project.
Earlier on Monday, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), New Patriotic Alliance) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. complained that cow dung that had been placed around the rally area at the Welcome Rotonda, which he described as an attempt to sabotage the rally.
"I don't know who's behind this. But definitely it's the handiwork of those who don't want to us to succeed in our undertakings," Reyes told reporters.
"It's literally the doing of a dirty trick department," he said.
In a separate statement, Reyes asserted that "the momentum for people power" was still on the side of the anti-Arroyo rallies.
"The widespread mass actions of recent weeks have shown that there is no such thing as people power fatigue," he said.
"The youth, professionals, workers, and farmers are all at the forefront of the rising tide of protest against the Arroyo regime," he added.
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