It’s Estrada’s turn to show numbers

Critics called them rent-a-crowd, a "hakot" crowd. Still they flocked to the Rizal Park yesterday, nearly a million strong, ostensibly to pray and, by their mere presence, show that beleaguered President Estrada still enjoys public support.

An overcast sky failed to dampen the spirit of the religious devotees who attended the prayer rally that was supposed to foster national reconciliation and unity, but which the opposition and Catholic Church leaders snubbed.

A few participants flashed small posters declaring "No to resign!" A helicopter also circled overhead with a sign reading "Uphold the Law," an apparent reference to the President’s insistence that the corruption charges against him be resolved through impeachment proceedings, not through street protests demanding his resignation.

Avoiding confrontation with his critics, the President tried to show that the gathering was a non-political affair. His speech that capped the rally merely sought divine help to improve the economy for the good of the poor.

"Yahweh, bigyan mo kami ng dunong (Yahweh, grant us wisdom)," he intoned. He sought forgiveness for the sins of individuals and the nation and said he was leaving his fate to God.

"Ambushed" by reporters after the rally, the President simply said he hoped God would listen to his prayers.

The President tried to dispel allegations that the event was meant to match, if not outdo, a similar prayer rally organized last Nov. 4 by his outspoken critic Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and former President Corazon Aquino at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City. That rally pressed for the President’s resignation amid charges of widespread corruption.

Mr. Estrada said yesterday’s gathering, dubbed a National Day of Prayer and Fasting, was not politics-related, but merely a continuance of a religious tradition he started when he assumed the presidency in 1998.

However, it was widely viewed as a show of force to indicate that he still enjoys popular support. And his supporters came in full force: the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai which holds its weekly prayer rally in Rizal Park every Saturday, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Jesus Miracle Crusade and some Muslim groups.

Executive offices and local governments down to the barangay level also sent delegations, as seen in the vehicles that brought them to the rally site.

Police confiscated streamers from members of the People’s Movement Against Poverty expressing their unwavering support for the President.

"We have orders to keep the rally free from politics, either for or against the President," said Superintendent Miguel Laurel, chief of the Ermita police station.

Another large group came from San Juan wearing t-shirts printed with "Erap Pa Rin. Walang Iwanan." They said they came with their mayor, presidential son Jinggoy Estrada.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Estrada prayed for the "enlightenment" of his critics, especially the political opposition, hoping they would put national interest over personal motives.

In a message delivered during his weekly radio-television show, the President underscored the need for the people to close ranks against alleged attempts by his detractors to exploit the current economic and political crises besetting the country.

"The problems we are now facing are a challenge to every Filipino," Mr. Estrada said.

He urged his detractors to "listen to the dictates of your heart if you still love your country." He also rued that some political leaders have ignored his appeals for unity and reconciliation to enable the government to address the crises.

Mr. Estrada declared yesterday a non-working holiday to allow more people to join the prayer rally. Some government officials "encouraged" their employees to attend, while Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero concluded his memorandum requesting compliance with the words, "For compliance."

The opposition charged that some people were forced to go, while others were promised money for their attendance.

Among the government officials who attended the prayer rally were Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects Robert Aventajado, Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Press Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, Public Works and Highways Secretary Gregorio Vigilar, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, housing czar Leonora de Jesus, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Jejomar Binay, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco and Malabon Mayor Amado Vicencio.

Also gracing the affair were movie personalities German Moreno, Herbert Bautista and Efren Reyes Jr.

‘Freedom of hallucination’

In his radio program, Mr. Estrada mocked the coalesced opposition for its efforts to unseat him and vowed to be more outspoken on charges that he pocketed more than P400 million in bribes from illegal gambling operators.

He ridiculed the opposition’s claim that they would be in power by the end of the year. "In our Constitution, we have freedom of expression... we have freedom of assembly, but there is also freedom of hallucination and freedom of imagination."

Estranged presidential friend Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson sparked the scandal last month by saying he personally delivered the jueteng payoffs to the President.

The exposé triggered a deluge of calls for Mr. Estrada to step down, saying he has lost the moral authority to govern.

"People think that since I did not respond, I was guilty. Silence implies guilt so I did not follow my lawyers’ advice anymore and I let the truth come out," Mr. Estrada said.

He admitted the other day that his aide, lawyer Edward Serapio, received P200 million from Singson. The money was deposited in the bank account of the newly formed Erap Muslim Youth Foundation which is headed by the President’s brother-in-law Raul de Guzman.

Solons say huge turnout affirms support for Estrada

Pro-administration congressmen said the huge turnout at yesterday’s rally was an affirmation of support for the embattled President.

In a joint statement, Representatives Lualhati Antonino, Rodolfo Albano III, Rosenda Ocampo, Eduardo Veloso and Francis Escudero urged opposition leaders to refrain from further destabilization efforts.

"Similar to what is now happening in the US where they are calmly awaiting the final election results, let our leaders also be calm and objective, instead of issuing inflammatory statements that do nothing to solve the current situation," Escudero said.

The legislators also bucked accusations by the opposition that Malacañang supporters were largely responsible for the huge turnout at the rally.

"Let us not short-change the objective of the Luneta rally, which is to pray for unity and a speedy solution to our problems," Ocampo said.

Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr. led a contingent of 10,000 people to the rally.

The group included Vice Mayor Connie Angeles, the city council, city hall and barangay officials and representatives from religious, professional, youth and labor sectors.

For his part, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte said he and other governors went on fasting since midnight Friday up to 6 p.m. yesterday to show support for Mr. Estrada.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines also met earlier yesterday at the Holiday Inn Pavilion in Manila for a loyalty check.

Villafuerte said 64 of the league’s 78 members favored impeachment instead of resignation.

"The President is entitled to due process. If an ordinary person is entitled to due process, why not the President?" he asked.

Rally participants interviewed by The STAR admitted that they were fetched by buses or trucks provided by their local officials.

Abut 30 jeeploads came from Dagat-Dagatan, a blighted community at the boundary of Navotas, Tondo and Caloocan City.

Interviewed by the Associated Press (AP), Pedro Hermanos of Pasay City said they were there to manifest support to the President.

"We do not believe all these charges against him," he said.

Some of them, however, came for personal reasons.

"We decided to join the rally to personally appeal to the President to award to us the lots we now occupy," said Alicia Silverio of Barangay Maypajo, Caloocan City.

"I was requested by our president to join the rally, so I obliged. But that doesn’t mean I am pro-Erap (Estrada)," said Bing Garcillano, also of Maypajo.

Rita Homeres, a 41-year-old housewife from Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City, said they came in 25 buses.

Hundreds more came from Baliwag, Bulacan in 10 buses reportedly provided by Mayor Rolando Salvador.

A housewife from Talipapa, Novaliches said Mathay sent over 37 buses to take them to the Luneta.

A student of the Ismael Mathay High School in Project 8, Quezon City said he was paid P30 to join the rally.

Meanwhile, traffic was snarled in the vicinity of the Rizal Park despite the deployment of some 2,500 policemen by Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr.

Police said there were no untoward incidents, save for at least four people who fainted.

A group of some 50 marchers from Sta. Cruz, Manila had a piece of paper printed with "NAWN-PDMP" pasted on their breasts.

Asked what the initials stood for, they admitted they did not know, saying the decals came from their barangay chairman.

Kilusang Mayo Uno chairman Crispin Beltran belittled the turnout, saying it could not match the expected participants in the projected general strike on Tuesday.

Beltran said the so-called "Welgang Bayan" would be the "biggest anti-Erap demonstration" so far, saying it would paralyze vital installations and industries. – With reports from Sandy Araneta, Nestor Etolle, Marichu Villanueva, Jerry Botial, Pete Laude, Pia Lee-Brago, Non Alquitran, AP, AFP