MANILA, Philippines?Even if only five senators?all eyeing the presidency in 2010?will join Friday?s multisectoral rally against Charter change (Cha-cha), the entire Senate Thursday unanimously approved a resolution opposing the move of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s allies in Congress.

Senators Manuel Villar Jr., Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Manuel Roxas II and Panfilo Lacson?all potential presidential contenders in the 2010 election?are expected to join the rally Friday to be spearheaded by Catholic Church groups in Makati City.

But all 23 senators signed the resolution ?expressing the sense of the Senate that any attempt by the House of Representatives to unilaterally propose amendments to, or revision of, the Constitution without the approval by three-fourths of the Senate voting separately is unconstitutional.?

?This sends the strongest message yet that the Senate stands united against attempts by allies of the President in the lower house to subvert the Constitution for dubious ends,? said Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who introduced the measure.

The National Capital Region Police Office said 5,000 policemen would be deployed to ensure a ?safe and peaceful? rally in Makati.

?Let?s stop foolishness?

?Let?s stop all this foolishness,? Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said in a statement released by his office Thursday, voicing the sentiments of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on moves in the House to convene a constituent assembly (Con-ass).

Former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada are expected in the rally.

Also joining the rally are the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Former Senior Government Officials, Concerned Citizens Movement, Bangon Pilipinas, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), United Opposition (UNO), Edsa 3 Coalition, Black and White Movement, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Be Not Afraid Movement and Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

?We plan to end the year united in a common cause and determined to stop the Cha-cha express dead in its tracks. This is just the first action and hopefully not the last,? said Renato Reyes, secretary general of the leftist group Bayan.

Mikey leads pack

The House action for Con-ass is reportedly spearheaded by the President?s elder son, Rep. Juan Miguel ?Mikey? Arroyo of Pampanga, in coordination with the ruling party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

The initiative seeks to collect 198 signatures on a resolution convening the assembly to fulfill a constitutional requirement that empowers Congress to propose amendments to the Charter ?upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members.?

Critics say the move is ostensibly meant to bypass the Senate.

Congressional proponents suggest that whether voting should be jointly or separately in the Senate and the House will be for the Supreme Court to decide. Seven of the 15-member tribunal are retiring next year. Their replacements will be appointed by Ms Arroyo.

?Gigantic fraud?

Pangilinan said the Senate resolution was an ?institutional response and binds all signatories to uphold and defend the constitutional process.?

?It sends a strong message to the House that the Senate stands united against any attempt to subvert the Constitution,? Pangilinan said, noting it was the first time in his seven years in the chamber that a resolution carried the signatures of all its members.

?To borrow the words of the Supreme Court, we will not tolerate this gigantic fraud being foisted on the people by desperate individuals in the House,? Pangilinan said.

The anti-Charter change rally could ?spark a chain reaction of protests,? warned Sen. Edgardo Angara, who signed the resolution along with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, both staunch Arroyo allies.

?If they are not very careful about it that may become what political scientists call the tipping point,? he said, referring to recent events in Thailand and Greece.

Roxas said he believed Ms Arroyo?s allies had ?underestimated the people?s bid to fight a Gloria Forever Constitution.?

?It?s not about politics but it?s the right thing to do,? Legarda said, explaining why she will join the rally.

Not part of lawmaking

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said street protesters were not a part of a legislative process. ?Are we going to stop because of street demos and public outcry?? he said in a text message.

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay denied that the House measure sought to extend the term limits of elected officials.

?We?re creating ghosts and we are all afraid even though nothing has happened,? she said.

Ms Arroyo Thursday stuck to her hectic schedule, keeping a business-as-usual attitude.

Shrugging off reports of huge mobilizations, the President motored to the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to view the remains of five slain Marines. Sergeants Wilfredo Abugan and Roque Alejo, Cpl. Daniel Dizcaya, Pfc. Rodulfo Budino and Pvt. Julius Deleña were killed in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province on Sunday.

Ms Arroyo then proceeded to the inauguration of the Alabang viaduct and later to the opening of the Quezonian Livelihood & Learning Center in Sariaya, Quezon.

?We should talk, dialogue, debate instead of protesting. There are more positive ways to make oneself heard,? said Palace spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo.

Just the first salvo

Opposition officials, leftist and civil society groups and religious organizations will converge on the Ninoy Aquino monument at the heart of the Makati Central Business District Friday afternoon for the rally that has a police permit until 9 p.m.

?This administration has deprived the Filipino masses of their chosen leader not just once, when they ousted me, but twice, when they cheated FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) in the 2004 elections. We will not allow the people to be deprived of having a duly elected president a third time,? Estrada said in a statement.

Parliament with Arroyo as PM

If the Congress effort succeeded, Ms Arroyo would most likely run for a seat in parliament and eventually get herself elected as prime minister, said Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

?If Malacañang is ready to Cha-cha, we are ready to rumble,? said Binay, president of the United Opposition.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said he would grant permits for anti-Charter change demonstrations throughout the city Friday, particularly in Liwasang Bonifacio and Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) near the Malacañang Palace. With reports from Tina G. Santos, Leila B. Salaverria, Allison W. Lopez, Kristine L. Alave, Jerome Aning, TJ Burgonio and Dona Z. Pazzibugan