Indignation sweeps the country

Angry, disgusted and indignant, huge crowds took to the streets, in a spontaneous show of protest, in different parts of the country late Tuesday night to condemn the "mockery of justice" by 11 senators who voted to disregard potentially damaging bank records in the impeachment trial against President Estrada.

Protesters chanted "Erap resign" as motorists honked their horns and text messages were passed on, exhorting people to express their disappointment over what transpired at the Senate tribunal, in major cities like Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Naga, General Santos and Koronadal.

The rallies continued throughout the day yesterday, with protesters from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog provinces trooping to Metro Manila to join the "people power" gathered at the EDSA Shrine. Elsewhere, anti-Estrada groups drew up their respective protest activities.

The "civil disobedience" has begun, according to Eliseo Cadiang, Tarlac chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

"The people have lost faith in the impeachment trial. ‘Judgment Day’ has come," he said.

‘Farcical trial’

Bishop Ramon Villena of the Diocese of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, said the decision of the 11 senators to block the opening of the second envelope containing bank records of President Estrada, under the fictitious name "Jose Velarde," was a "grievous suspension of the truth," turning the impeachment process into a "farcical, bogus trial."

"The pro-Estrada senators have shown their true political color," said Villena in a strongly worded statement, heaping much of his scorn on Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a native of Cagayan, whom he said appears to be "returning to his old Marcosian ways."

The outspoken bishop, co-chairman of the Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference of the Philippines, vowed to lead a series of mass actions until Mr. Estrada steps down from office, "even if we have to die for it."

With the events unfolding, Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela finally joined the mounting clamor for Mr. Estrada to resign.

"Can you, in the face of so much disunity and distrust, lead us toward peace, stability and progress?...If in the days that follow, your conscience tells you, ‘No,’ or if events continue to show that you can no longer govern effectively, for the sake of the people you love — have you any other course of action but to resign?" said Coscolluela in a letter to Mr. Estrada.

Bayan-Tarlac and its affiliate-groups, joined by the multisectoral coalition Resign Erap! Sigaw ng mga Tarlaqueño, plan to "totally paralyze" transportation between Metro Manila and Northern Luzon until Friday.

Cadiang said roadblocks have already been put up along the Bamban-Mabalacat and Concepcion-Magalang roads. "We are prepared for any eventualities," he said.

Tarlac Vice Gov. Herminio Aquino appealed to authorities to "respect the people’s right to peaceful but militant actions against the Estrada regime."

‘Surround Palace’

In San Fernando, Pampanga, thousands of protesters from the different Central Luzon provinces, led by Bayan, converged yesterday morning and left in a convoy to join the crowd massed in front of the EDSA Shrine.

Various groups under the Estrada Resign Movement vowed to mobilize one million people to "surround" Malacañang in a still undetermined date.

Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid was set to meet with Lakas-NUCD leaders in the province to discuss plans to send delegations to beef up the EDSA crowd.

Scores of anti-riot policemen have been detailed along the North Expressway. The lawmen said they were given orders to block rallyists from going to Metro Manila.

Reports said policemen deployed along the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road intercepted several buses, while a busload of protesters from Isabela was blocked in Bulacan.

But Chief Superintendent Roberto Calinisan, Central Luzon police director, warned that police would block provincial folk from going to Metro Manila only when rallies there get unruly and the crowds become congested.

"So far, what I have deployed are monitoring teams along the North Expressway to merely help motorists and maintain peace and order," he said.

In Bulacan, convenors of the local Estrada Resign Movement had to call an emergency meeting yesterday, ahead of a meeting they had scheduled tomorrow.

The movement, led by the Justice and Peace Desk of the Archdiocese of Malolos, called on their members to join the mass action at the EDSA Shrine.

A prayer rally was held at the Malolos Cathedral, while students of the Bulacan State University went out of their classrooms and roamed the streets, exhorting people to join the Estrada Resign campaign.

Baguio walkout

In Baguio City, the 2,000-strong UP College community walked out at about 11 a.m. and proceeded to Session Road to dramatize their indignation. They were later joined by students of the Baguio City National High School and the Baguio Colleges Foundation.

The protesters massed at the bus terminal area of Governor Pack Road and later at the top of Session Road where non-government organizations had gathered.

Together, the different groups moved toward Mabini Road, then circled the university belt, then to Bonifacio Road where students of Saint Louis University joined them, and finally at Malcolm Square where speakers took turns lambasting the 11 pro-Estrada senators.

In Dagupan City, Msgr. Oscar Cruz, head of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese and "Erap Agco La! (Enough of Erap)," gathered multisectoral groups yesterday to "prepare for mass actions in search for truth and justice."

The groups plan to hold a candle vigil in front of the St. John’s Cathedral in Dagupan tomorrow, a noise barrage and march by about 6,000 high school and college students and other protesters on Friday, capped with a grand rally in the afternoon.

Cruz said he will issue a circular on Friday to be read in Masses over the weekend, for a call to action.

Black ribbons hung from electric poles while indignant Pangasinenses wore black armbands. Last night, thousands of students staged a one-hour noise barrage.

Despite the 11 senators’ verdict, Cruz believes it was a blessing. "Even if we are saddened by (their) decision, at least they have shown their color early."

In Naga City, more than a thousand rallyists, mostly students, staged an indignation rally at Plaza Quezon to denounce the 11 senators, singling out Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta who, they said, "stained the name" of his brother, slain former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.

Students from Catholic schools in Legazpi City boycotted their classes.

Anger in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod

Thousands of Cebuanos braved the rain and let loose their anger and disappointment in the streets Tuesday night.

For less than three hours of disseminating the protest action, students, professionals, the urban poor, traders and the religious flocked to the Fuente rotunda. Fiery speeches were delivered during the indignation rally.

Students and teachers from different colleges and universities left their classes yesterday, and, together with militant groups and other protesters, marched to Fuente Osmeña.

During the rally where a special Mass was celebrated, sectoral leaders called for civil disobedience. Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president said Filipinos should stop paying taxes.

More than 200 motorists honked their horns while cruising the streets of Bacolod as residents went out of their homes. The outburst of indignation began with text messages urging the people to air their sentiments.

After nearly two hours of noise barrage, a mixed group of anti-Estrada politicians, housewives, students and businessmen gathered for prayer at the plaza and sang Bayan Ko.

Yesterday morning, La Salle students marched to the plaza for a protest rally after school officials suspended classes. They were later joined by other students and anti-Estrada groups.

At the nearby Fountain of Justice at City Hall and Rizal Park, militant groups Sanlakas and Bayan staged their own protest actions. As of press time, the Diocese of Bacolod was holding a prayer vigil at the San Sebastian Cathedral.

Text messages also helped gather people in Davao City late Tuesday night. The protesters converged at Rizal Park for a noise barrage-cum-rally.

Students of the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Davao and other schools walked out of their classrooms and joined yesterday’s march-rally. Workers also joined the protest action.

The same situation erupted in the Socsargen area as hundreds of activists and church people took to the streets. Church bells pealed yesterday morning in General Santos, South Cotabato, Sarangani and parts of Sultan Kudarat, signaling the start of a series of massive protest actions to seek Mr. Estrada’s ouster. — Edith Regalado, Antonieta Lopez, Eva de Leon, Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Allen Estabillo, James Mananghaya, Benjie Villa, Cesar Ramirez, Celso Amo, Charlie Lagasca and Freeman News Service