¦:-•Champagne-:-Doll•-:¦
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 Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:18 am Post subject: Thousands protest against Philippines' Arroyo |
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By Manny Mogato 22 minutes ago
MANILA (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied in Manila on Friday calling for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over a corruption scandal.
Police said around 10,000 people, mainly left-wing activists, students and religious groups, had taken to the streets.
The protests, sparked by a Senate inquiry into government kickbacks in a telecom deal, were the biggest since tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Arroyo in 2005 amid allegations she cheated in elections the previous year..
"We are outraged by the reports of corruption and greed in government," said Maita Gomez, an activist who said she was wearing red because it was the color of anger.
Religious leaders sang songs and read prayers from a stage set up at the front of the rally and people waved posters with the words "Out Gloria." Some wore badges that read, "Moderate Your Greed."
Office workers in high-rise buildings threw confetti on the crowds below.
But analysts said the absence of high profile politicians from the demonstration showed the political elite did not believe Arroyo, who has survived three impeachment bids and at least three coup plots, could be pushed out.
"It appears it's only the activist left that came out in full force," said Benito Lim, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.
"If the opposition cannot even come together, how can they bring down Gloria?"
In an interview with Reuters earlier this week, Arroyo said she would complete her final term and in a briefing with investors on Friday, she assured them that the latest allegations were part of the typical political rough-and-tumble.
"These types of charges have regularly emerged even in previous administrations, as part of our less than impressive political culture," said the former economist, whose final term runs out in 2010.
The Senate inquiry has heard renewed allegations that the country's former election chief demanded $130 million to broker a $329 million deal with China's ZTE to build a broadband network for government agencies. The deal was scrapped last year.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
But political analysts say the president's position appears safe due to support from the military and the lower house of Congress and the apathy of many Filipinos, who are sick of the political merry-go-round in Manila.
Arroyo herself took over after former President Joseph Estrada was ousted following street protests seven years ago. He was later convicted of plunder, but Arroyo granted him a pardon last year.
The latest scandal has, however, unsettled some investors. The Philippine stock index bucked the regional uptrend on Thursday and continued to fall on Friday, finishing down 0.9 percent.
The government rejected all bids for 4-year Treasury bonds earlier this week after the renewed controversy encouraged banks to demand a higher rate of return.
The Philippines is currently on an economic roll, with growth at a 31-year high and the budget deficit at a 10-year low, and Arroyo said the momentum would be sustained despite a slowdown in the United States through accelerated infrastructure spending.
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Last edited by ¦:-•Champagne-:-Doll•-:¦ on Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:53 am; edited 1 time in total |
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