SOME 5,000 students and young professionals staged a rally Tuesday to show their opposition against the proposed Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).

Those who attended are from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Adamson University, University of the Philippines-Manila and Diliman, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica's College, Jose Rizal University, and Arellano University.

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Militant groups Anakpawis, Bayan, Gabriela, and Bayan Muna also joined the students in their move.

The protesters came in droves after a small number of demonstrators belonging to the Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reform, Advocacy, and Progress (my ERAP) staged a lighting rally to oppose Con-Ass and to "serve an eviction notice" to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang Tuesday morning.

But they were instead turned away by anti-riot policemen and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at the J.P. Rizal gate of the Palace in San Miguel Street, Manila.

The rallyists were also forced to cancel a mass at the St. Jude Shrine and a scheduled press briefing at the Max's Restaurant on J.P. Laurel Street around 8 a.m.

Around 50 group members who were already inside the church and the restaurant for their planned activities were escorted out of the premises by the PSG personnel and operatives of the National Capital Region Office Mobile Group (NCRPO-RMG) and the Manila Police District (MPD).

The other group members who were heading to St. Jude Church and Max's Restaurant were also barred from entering the premises by the PSG personnel and policemen.

In a statement, the my ERAP said: "Today (June 30) marks one year before Mrs. Arroyo is scheduled to step down under the Constitution. It is a Constitution, which Arroyo, through her allies in Congress, wants to mutilate to allow her to stay in power beyond 2010."

About 3:30 p.m., the students from the University Belt started convening and moving towards the Liwasang Bonifacio in Lawton, Manila, where they held a program. A local band joined to rally the crowd.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim joined the protest rally briefly. Also in attendance were former United Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano and constitutionalist Harry Roque.

Tamano, who is head of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, said the students came to the rally of their own accord and not from any pressure to join. (ECV/Sunnex)