MANILA, Philippines?Three groups representing business executives are urging Malacañang to back its words with action in the move against Charter change (Cha-cha) and a possible no-election scenario.

The Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines and Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, along with Action for Economic Reforms and Foundation for Economic Freedom also Tuesday expressed disgust at the passage of a House resolution seeking to convene a constitutional assembly (Con-ass) to amend the Charter.

?We are appalled at the indecency and blatant disregard of the Filipino people?s will displayed by the House of Representatives in its adoption of House Resolution No. 1109 that allows itself to convene as a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, without the necessary participation of the Senate,? the business groups said in a joint statement.

Unless President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo clearly rejects her congressional allies? maneuverings and explicitly commits ?that presidential elections will be held next year, Malacañang?s declarations amount to nothing but more subterfuge and double talk,? the statement said.

MBC executive director Alberto Lim said the proof of the pudding was in the eating. ?When the House withdraws from Cha-cha and rescinds the resolution, then and only then will we know that Malacañang is being true to its word,? he said.

Makati execs joining rally

In the meantime, Lim said his group, being one of the signatories to the strongly worded statement, would be joining Wednesday?s rally against Con-ass in Makati.

?We are supporting the rally and encourage our members to participate to defend democracy,? he said.

The groups questioned the motive behind the passage of HR 1109.

Timing suspect

?The timing, less than a year before the presidential election, was also very much suspect, considering that there was no clamor to amend the Constitution and the resolution contained no issue of profound impact on the people?s welfare,? the statement said.

?By this action of pro-administration congresspersons, any remaining doubts about the determination of the Arroyo administration and its allies in the House to manipulate our democratic processes and institutions to prolong their hold on power have been erased,? it added.

The groups urged Filipinos to ?fight and reject this diabolical effort to destroy our democracy.?

Some 20,000 protesters

More than 20,000 people in Metro Manila are expected to stage a rally on Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati against the resolution, according to organizers.

?The anger of the public is different now since the Cha-cha resolution has been passed. Everyone joining the rally feels the urgency to act now,? said Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Whistle-blower Jun Lozada, accompanied at the organizers? meeting Tuesday by Sr. Mary John Mananzan, said in an interview he had not lost hope that the protest would bring about change.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of United Opposition, said no heavy downpour, power interruption or flu scare could stop the rally.

Binay said organizers would prepare generators in case of power interruption aimed at sabotaging the rally.

In a statement sent from his base in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison advised protest organizers not to concentrate their mobilization in Metro Manila but also hold mass actions in the provinces.

Militants in Southern Tagalog said they would not join the rally in Makati and instead hold simultaneous protest actions against Charter change in the region.

Regionally coordinated

Tin Macabetcha, spokesperson of Bayan-Southern Tagalog, said her group was expecting about 300 militants to join a ?regionally coordinated? rally at Crossing, Calamba, Laguna, at 4 p.m.

The protesters are also set to hold a simultaneous noise barrage in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon also at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and on Wednesday.

In Naga City, the Coalition for Bicol Development and the People?s Council said they would also stage protest actions on Wednesday.

Naga Councilor John Bongat said proposing Con-ass this time was ill-timed. ?It came at a time when election is just months away,? Bongat said.

Renne Gumba, director of Ateneo de Naga University?s Institute of Politics, said the Con-ass proposal was a calibrated move to pressure the Supreme Court to act on the issue.

?What is bad in the proposal is it would change the system of government but would put the same people in power,? he said.

Noise barrage

Two days before the rallies Wednesday, more than 100 residents blew whistles, rattled pipes and rang church bells in Bacolod City.

The noise barrage on Monday night at the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod was part of the buildup for the rally against Con-ass scheduled at the public plaza Wednesday.

In a statement read during a brief program held before the noise barrage, the Diocese of Bacolod condemned the lawmakers who passed HR 1109.

The diocese called the move deceptive, a betrayal of the people?s trust, illegal, shameful and immoral, and urged the people to oppose it.

In Iloilo City, the Ilonggos? Movement Against Arroyo?s Charter Change (I March) and Bayan would lead the ?Black Wednesday Protest.?

Protesters will assemble on the grounds of the Jaro Cathedral before 1 p.m. and will march to the grounds of the provincial capitol where a program will be held.

Wear black

?We call on Filipinos to join our peaceful rally. Let us wear black to mourn the death of democracy and freedom in our country,? Fr. Mark Lester Senina, assistant director of the Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center, said at a press conference Tuesday.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines, will join the protest march, Senina said.

Senina said church bells in at least 10 parishes in Iloilo City would ring simultaneously before and after the protest action.

The Bayan Muna chapter in Central Visayas said it expected to gather more than 1,000 protesters, who will march at 9 a.m. Wednesday from Fuente Osmeña to Colon Street in Cebu City. With reports from Maricar Cinco, Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Jan Davila and Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; Carla P. Gomez, Nestor Burgos and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas