MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang on Friday belittled former president Joseph Estrada’s presence at the interfaith rally in Makati City to press for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over alleged corruption in the administration.

“The 80 million Filipinos know that one hand [of Estrada] points at the Palace but three of his other fingers point at himself,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in the Palace. “Maybe it is only fitting that one of his fingers points to Malacañang while three others point at himself.”

Bunye also downplayed the effect of the Makati rally, saying such protest could not be sustained for long.

“You know], it’s also a costly operation. The rallyists need to eat, need to be transported; this involves costs and I am not sure if that can be sustained over a long period,” he said.

Bunye said Arroyo also enjoys the support of students and local government officials who, he claimed, are among the “more solid” supporters of the President.

He said the Palace is no longer surprised by the anti-Arroyo position of many state universities and colleges, saying these institutions had always been a “source of discontent.”

”Our only ground rule [for protests] is, any form, any expression should be peaceful,” Bunye said. “It should be within the guidelines of the law (and) should not unduly inconvenience others who do not share the opinion and sentiments of those who are joining these kinds of demonstrations.”