ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Thaksin charged, granted bail, barred from leaving Thailand Military chief asked to step down too ‘Mikey’ Arroyo pleads to critics to ‘spare father’ GALLERY 1 2 Next   Zoom    Read Full Story IN GOD I TRUST. On the eve of a large inter-faith prayer rally to press for her resignation on corruption charges, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is prayed over by priests from her home province of Pampanga in Malacañang Thursday. INQUIRER.net/JOEL GUINTO PRAYING OVER ARROYO. On the eve of a large inter-faith prayer rally to press for her resignation on corruption charges, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is prayed over by priests from her home province of Pampanga in Malacañang on Thursday. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Joel Guinto in Manila, Philippines. Too much information? The buzz started last night with a Manila Bulletin article on the President checking into the Asian Hospital in Alabang for some cosmetic procedures. Take a look at a scr ...More 50% of flu victims in their teens, pre-teens CBCP happy with poll automation development De Castro unveils good governance agenda Prayer power for Aquino spreads to Internet CBCP head favors partial poll automation Automation firms say machines 100% accurate Hundreds of Moro rebels slain—military More Stories » News Make sure doors are locked when in cab Petty politics in Tacloban City Prayers sought for ailing Cory Aquino Vizcaya town gets taste of good governance Solon: P500-M demand did it Bernard Madoff gets 150 years in prison BoC to computerize valuation of customs goods DepEd owes GSIS P21.3 B Phase out PCBs by 2014 urged 50 journalists in Maguindanao held, freed News Palace makes a clean breast of Arroyo implant Estrada backs mayor in fight vs Arroyo son Maxene files fraud raps vs aide High court castigates abusive Makati judge PAG-IBIG issues ultimatum to employers Arroyo doesn’t care for soldiers Fugitive nabbed for illegal investment scheme Quake shakes Mindoro Imelda Marcos: The best and worst life Poll automation is back on track Building a closer RP-US partnership Nonstop prayers for Cory Aquino; no visits   News Most Read RSS Buencamino Photography & Associates Look for: Erwin Buencamino /Ana Marie Pia Tel.No.: +632.535.5360/+632.7172513 Mobile: +63.917.5410141 Jomel Gregorio Photography Look for: Jomel or Nanette Gregorio Tel.No.: +632.496.8126 Mobile: (0917)8443124/(0920)9133930 Email: info@jomelgregorio.com

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was prayed over by priests from her home province of Pampanga on Thursday, the eve of an inter-faith rally to press for her ouster amid corruption charges.

But Monsignor Eugenio Mercado Jr., said that they were praying for "unity" and that they were not taking sides in the political turmoil caused by the national broadband network controversy.

"[The purpose of] the Pampanga clergy coming to Malacañang is to make a pray over to the President. That is the main objective, we pray for unity among Filipinos, we pray with the President," said Mercado, who is assigned with the Lourdes Parish in Angeles City.

"There are no political issues involved here," Mercado said but acknowledged that the President needed prayers, "especially at this time."

Mercado said "more than 40" of the over 100 priests in the President's home province called on the President at the Palace.

He said they came "voluntarily," adding that they pray over the President "occasionally" either in Malacañang or in her hometown of Lubao.

Asked if their coming to Malacañang was an expression of support for Arroyo, Mercado said: "It depends… when we pray, we ask for God's support, and so we support the President."

The President is fighting off fresh calls for her ouster amid allegations that she and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, pocketed millions of dollars in kickbacks from the alleged overprice of the government's $329-million contract with China's ZTE Corp. for the NBN project.

While it did not join calls for her resignation, the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has asked Arroyo to lead the fight against corruption and scrap Executive Order 464, which bars her Cabinet officials from testifying in legislative inquiries without her permission.

• Thaksin charged, granted bail, barred from leaving Thailand
• Military chief asked to step down too
• ‘Mikey’ Arroyo pleads to critics to ‘spare father’

• 50% of flu victims in their teens, pre-teens
• CBCP happy with poll automation development
• De Castro unveils good governance agenda
• Prayer power for Aquino spreads to Internet
• CBCP head favors partial poll automation
• Automation firms say machines 100% accurate
• Hundreds of Moro rebels slain—military