MANILA -- The opposition warned President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be “very, very afraid” of the people's wrath regarding Charter change (Cha-cha).

They said the unity displayed by the people during former president Corazon Aquino’s funeral showed it could be a potent force against any moves to change the Constitution.

Post your prayers and condolences for Cory Aquino's family

The bad weather, on the other hand, did not stop people from all walks of life to visit the Aquino family mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City to pay their respect to the former president.

Critics have accused Arroyo, who initially came to power in 2001 when Joseph Estrada was ousted from office and was later elected in 2004, of seeking to amend the Constitution so that she can remain in office.

But with tens of thousands of Aquino's supporters flooding the streets of Manila since Aquino's death at the weekend in an emotional show of strength, Arroyo is looking more marginalized than ever, analysts say.

For many, the massive outpouring of grief revived memories of the non-violent revolution she led in 1986, which eventually toppled the 20-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and saw democratic rule restored.

“All of this outpouring of grief and the appearance of so many people appears to be a rebuke to president Arroyo,” political analyst Benito Lim of the Ateneo de Manila University said.

“There was a political element there (in the public outpouring of grief).”

He noted that those who were prominently seen paying their respects alongside the Aquino family included leading members of the opposition.

Among them was former President Estrada, who was ousted by a popular revolt in 2001 that saw Arroyo, who was then his vice president, sworn in.

San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the massive outpouring of sympathy for the Aquinos showed that the people’s spirit of unity of purpose has not vanished. Ejercito is the chairman of the United Opposition-National Capital Region (UNO-NCR).

Ejercito asked Malacañang and its allies in the House of Representatives to be mindful of the people's reaction and ditch attempts to tinker with the Constitution.

“To really honor the memory of Mrs. Aquino, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should categorically state that the Presidential elections will be held in 2010. Likewise, Congress should altogether withdraw Cha-cha,” he said.

Earlier, UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said Arroyo could face a major political upheaval if she and her allies in Congress push through with plans to amend the Constitution.
“I am certain that if Mrs. Arroyo pushes through with her selfish agenda, the spirit of Cory Aquino will rally the people. Mrs. Arroyo faces a political upheaval if she goes through with her plans," Binay said.

Mon Casiple, an analyst with the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform think tank, said Aquino's death “raised the political bar against any plot to change the Constitution in the service of an extension of power.”

Without any changes to the Constitution, Arroyo will have to leave office when her term expires in June 30 next year.

However, Casiple warned that Arroyo's allies, if they are unable to amend the Constitution, could engineer a situation that would give Arroyo an excuse to scrap the polls.

Over the past five days Filipinos in their tens of thousands have braved lashing wind and rain to pay their respect to the much-loved Aquino.

More than 200,000 attended her funeral on Wednesday in scenes reminiscent of the wake for her husband Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in 1983, following his assassination at Manila international airport on his return from exile in the United States.

The murder triggered deep public anger, which three years later grew into a popular revolt that sent Marcos and his family into exile in Hawaii.

Aquino, fondly called Tita -- or Auntie -- Cory by the public, had led street protests against Arroyo before bowing out of public view due to cancer in March last year.

Many commentators at the time said the "Cory magic" had gone and she could no longer inspire the masses despite allegations of massive corruption leveled against Arroyo and her attempts to change the constitution.

Aquino herself rewrote the Constitution to limit the presidency to one six-year-term after restoring democracy in 1986.

"I suppose she (Arroyo) has no choice now but to step down quietly," when her term ends next year, Lim said.

Eddie Villanueva, a popular television evangelist who lost a presidential bid against Arroyo in 2004 elections, said the throng that showed up at Aquino's funeral was "an indelible sign of a changing season."

He called on Filipinos to continue with Aquino's fight to protect democracy.

"Where the current national leaders have failed to inspire the nation, she by her death indelibly showed to the country and to the world the kind of character Filipinos are really made of," said Villanueva.

Pastor Boy Saycon, secretary general of the Council on Philippine Affairs (Copa), for his part said such an act is a big possibility considering the show of support by hundreds of thousands of people who braved the continuous rain and long walk just to be with Mrs. Aquino.

“Heightened emotions" currently being felt by Filipinos over the democracy icon’s death will further the fight for good governance, he explained.

“The struggle for better government will take on another form and another phase,” he added, saying the Arroyo administration “will be killed by kindness.”

Civil disobedience is a form of nonviolent resistance against laws, demands, or commands of a government as practiced by India’s Mahatma Gandhi against British rulers in their former colony.

More sympathy

The bad weather did not stop people from all walks of life to visit the Aquino family mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City to pay their respect to the former president.

Metro Manila experienced intermittent rains the whole day on Thursday but it did not stop people from all ages in visiting the former leader.

Paranaque Police Chief Alfredo Valdez said they are coordinating with the memorial park management and security to ensure the safety of those who are visiting Mrs. Aquino's tomb at the mausoleum.

“Many of our countrymen are still visiting former president Aquino. Maybe they are among those who were not able to enter the Manila Memorial Park yesterday (Wednesday),” according to Valdez.

Workers at the memorial park were putting the final paint on Mrs. Aquino's tomb beside her husband, Ninoy.

The 76-year-old Mrs. Aquino died last August 1 at the Makati Medical Center where she was confined since June due to complications of colon cancer and loss of appetite. She was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.

At Aquino's family residence in 25 Times Street, Barangay West Triangle, Quezon City, the same scene is repeated as people, sometimes from neighboring provinces, brought flowers while others prayed.

A bouquet of roses with a dedication “St. Cory, Please pray for the Filipinos” caught the attention of passersby at the bungalow-type Aquino residence.

People have been lighting candles and leaving notes and flowers in front of the Aquino residence, after the announcement of the former leader’s death early morning Saturday.(AH/Sunnex)