Cory to Estrada: Don’t wait for impeachment

Former President Corazon Aquino urged President Estrada yesterday to take his "final bow" now rather than suffer a humiliating exit from his post through impeachment.

"Resign now, Mr. President," Aquino said in a Catholic Church-sponsored "prayer rally" at the EDSA Shrine, where some 130,000 people converged to call for Mr. Estrada’s resignation. "Even the best actor knows when it’s time to take a final bow ."

"History may treat you more kindly if you go peacefully and you go now," she said at the rally, attended by virtually all the country’s top government officials.

For his part, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin warned that Mr. Estrada may face "great embarrassment, humiliation and ignominy" if the Chief Executive does not step down now.

"This presidency is not good for you because you are not capable of running this country," the prelate said. "Resignation is good for your soul."

Also in yesterday’s rally were Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who heads an opposition coalition and is next in line to the presidency, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Manuel Villar Jr., Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr. and House Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

"It is not a happy occasion for Filipinos to declare the leader whom they freely and popularly elected president is someone who has betrayed they trust so grievously, so callously, so repeatedly," Arroyo said.

Pressure on Mr. Estrada to quit his post has escalated rapidly as prominent lawmakers have deserted his Lapiang ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) party in recent days. More than 45 former LAMP congressmen have said they will support an impeachment motion in the House of Representatives, virtually assuring enough votes to send it to the Senate for a trial.

However, the once immensely popular Mr. Estrada – a former movie action star – remains defiant. He has repeatedly denied accusations that he received more than P400 million from illegal gambling bosses.

He said he is willing to submit to an impeachment process, confident that he will be proven innocent.

Aquino said she was praying that the President would have the humility to make "the most momentous decision in his life," meaning resignation.

She appealed to his sense of duty, saying that economic recovery and the healing of political divisions could only begin once he resigned.

Aquino also called on the military and police to support their call for Mr. Estrada’s resignation.

"Be one with us, as you were in EDSA, and protect your people from those who would use you for their own selfish ends," she said.

Sin, meanwhile, said "the immorality of the President seems to have worsened after his assumption to the highest office."

"His close associates attest to this with regret," Sin said, apparently referring to Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit Singson, who exposed Mr. Estrada’s alleged links with gambling lords.

"The presidency has become an occasion of sin for him. His immoral life, high-stakes gambling, his women and his mistresses, his drinking sessions, his association with friends of doubtful character – have worsened through the past two years. He has become complacent," the prelate said.

Sin, whom Mrs. Aquino paid tribute to in her speech as a champion of democracy and a "great Filipino," said resignation can change Mr. Estrada’s life.

"It might help him to recover his morality in private life by changing his job. By resigning, there will be less offers to enjoy women, there will be more prudence when he relaxes," he said.

"Ayaw namin ng lider na may katungkulan subalit walang karangalan. Ayaw namin ng lider na mahilig magpapogi subalit hindi naman kamukha ng Diyos. Ayaw namin ng lider na gustong magtagumpay subalit walang pananagutan (We don’t want a leader with an office but without honor. We don’t want a leader who is fond of looking good but is not godly. We don’t want a leader who wants triumph without accountability)," he said.

Sin then asked, "Can you face the nation, our youth and our children and encourage them to imitate you because you have been a faithful husband to the First Lady?"

He said the President was elected because Mr. Estrada promised to be pro-poor.

"But can he say today that his life showed simplicity of taste and austerity of lifestyle?" Sin asked.

He told Mr. Estrada that he is entitled to some relaxation because he is under so much pressure.

"Drinking and playing are good forms of relaxation," he said. "Can you face the nation and say that you only drink and play mah-jongg for relaxation and not as a vice?"

Sin then sought the truth behind Mr. Estrada’s reported generosity in giving tips whenever he wins in mah-jongg.

"Do you really give millions as balato? Two of our senators told us that you did. If the balato is P1 million, the betting must be a lot. We want the truth," the Cardinal said.

During the same rally, former President Fidel Ramos said that if Mr. Estrada cannot change, he should resign.

"President Estrada must reform himself, and if he cannot, he must resign – if the nation is to recover and survive," he said in a prepared speech for the prayer rally.

He said the President should also change his governance, economic directions and implementation program.

"If you cannot do so before mid-December, then resign, and everyone will enjoy a merry Christmas and a happy New Year – including you," Ramos said.

Organizers said they deliberately chose to hold the rally at the same site of 1986 "people power" revolt, which resulted in the toppling of then-President Ferdinand Marcos and the installation of Aquino in his place.

The Catholic Church as well as Aquino and Ramos had played key roles in that revolt, which saw thousands of people blocking EDSA leading to Camp Crame where rebellious anti-Marcos troops had taken refuge.

In the face of the popular revolt, Marcos fled into exile.

Rally draws various ‘colors’

The rallyists in yesterday’s mass action hoisted white, yellow and red banners, with white symbolizing the Church, yellow the color of the pro-Aquino forces and red, the color of leftist groups.

They hoisted banners, among which read "Erap, please resign" and "Oust Erap," and appealed to him to "restore honor and dignity to our dignity to our country."

The organizers had earlier said they were expecting 100,000 people to attend the rally to pray for Mr. Estrada‘s "enlightenment."

"We are here today because we want him to resign," said a nun. "The people don’t believe him any more. It’s difficult to regain their confidence."

Tony Galang, 56, of Quezon City, said he is wondering why the President is hanging on to his post despite calls for resignation.

"I don’t know what he is waiting for. There is nothing else for him to do but to step down. The Filipino people no longer trust him," he said.

Former Speaker Jose de Venecia, who lost in the 1998 presidential elections, said he "feels vindicated" by seeing thousands of people protesting against Mr. Estrada.

Police officials said 3,000 security officers had been dispatched to control the crowd and direct traffic in the latest of a series of protests aimed against Mr. Estrada.

There was no violence and the police were seen only at the periphery of the crowd.

Mr. Estrada’s LAMP has also been hit by defections because of political and economic concerns.

Recently, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Manuel Villar bolted the ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) party.

Drilon urged Mr. Estrada to resign to end the political crisis and prevent a further economic deterioration. Dwindling business confidence has had a devastating effect on investment and financial markets, with the peso hitting a record low this past week and stocks trading nearing two-year lows.

Villar said he would back an impeachment complaint, which the House committee on justice is to start considering tomorrow.

Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas II left Mr. Estrada’s Cabinet on Thursday.

The resignations could help stabilize financial markets by assuring traders that the political crisis will be resolved soon, either through Mr. Estrada’s resignation or impeachment, analysts said.

The President’s chief political adviser, Angelito Banayo, who also resigned Friday, said the Chief Executive could wait out the impeachment process if markets recover this coming week.

Amid the growing clamor for President Estrada‘s resignation, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Generoso Senga said martial law is not an option of the military.

"We are indoctrinated that it is civilian rule over the military," Senga said as he assured the people that the AFP will uphold the Constitution.

But should violence erupt, he said the military will quell it "and then withdraw." – With reports from Sheila Crisostomo, Christina Mendez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Pete Laude, Romel Bagares, Ella Oducayen, Ric Sapnu, wire reports