70,000 come for Truth;Cory, Erap lead biggest rally against GMA yet

BY ASHZEL HACHERO
Malaya
March 1, 2008

IN their biggest anti-Arroyo gathering so far, sectoral groups yesterday gathered at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City in an interfaith prayer rally attended by former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada, who reiterated their calls for President Arroyo’s resignation.

Senate witness Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, who exposed payoffs and other anomalies in government’s national broadband network deal with a Chinese firm, also briefly addressed the crowd that organizers said peaked at 80,000 at the monument at Paseo de Roxas and Ayala avenues, with the protesters on Ayala reaching the Glorietta area.

Police estimated the crowd at 15,000 at its peak.

"Sobra na, tama na, resign na," Aquino told the crowd.

Aquino said at her age, she thought she was done with rallies but said the times are calling for her to act.

Estrada said the red windbreaker he was wearing symbolizes his desire to be with the people in the continuing search for the truth in the overpriced NBN deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

He said he is with the people’s struggle to search for the "truth" and that President Arroyo should follow the public’s call for her to resign.

"I just want to be remembered as the one who championed the masses," he said when asked if he had publicly decided to go against Arroyo.

He described himself as an "understaying" president and Arroyo as "overstaying." He asked the crowd what should be done to someone overstaying. "Palitan na," said the crowd, to which he said: "Hindi ako ang nagsabi niyan."

Lozada said some P1.47 billion in government funds intended for various projects is missing.

"Pagkatapos ng gabing to, pakitanong sa gobyerno ninyo kung saan napunta yung P1.47 billion na di ninyo nakita," he said.

Lozada criticized the police that reportedly blocked several groups of protesters, including contingents of militant groups from Southern Luzon.

He thanked Filipinos supporting him in the search for the truth, particularly in alleged overpriced NBN-ZTE deal.

"Lahat ng nandito ngayong gabi... iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nito. Mas binigyan ninyo ng halaga ang mga karapatan ng mga biktima ng korapsyon kung bakit kayo nandito ngayong gabi. Kasi marami pa tayong kasama na binibigyan ng pahalaga ang karapatan... ng mga nang-aapi sa atin," Lozada said.

Joining the United Opposition in the rally were leaders of various Church groups, including Jesus Is Lord’s Eddie Villanueva and Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Bishop Teodoro Bacani.

Also among those in the rally were Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, Rep. Risa Baraquel-Hontiveros, former senator Loi Estrada, former Speaker Jose de Venecia’s wife Gina, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, civil society leader Pastor Boy Saycon, and ZTE whistle-blower Joey de Venecia III.

Villanueva asked Arroyo to open her eyes to the Filipinos’ living conditions and to the military to remain the "protector" of the Filipino people.

Bacani, in a moment of sarcasm, said it has become hard nowadays to tell the truth in the country. If someone wants to talk about the truth, he would be sent to Hong Kong, Bacani said, referring to Lozada.

And if that someone already wants to go back to his home in Pasig, he would be transported by government agents to Alabang, Bacani added.

Bacani appealed to former socioeconomic planning Secretary Romulo Neri to come out and tell the whole truth in the ZTE deal.

"Neri, pakiusap ko, magsabi ka na," Bacani said.

Neri has told the Senate he had been offered by former elections chair Benjamin Abalos P200 million for the approval of the NBN project.

The Alliance of Progressive Labor and the Health Alliance for Democracy, which also joined the rally, called on the public to join the continuous expressions of dismay over Arroyo’s insistence to cling to her post.