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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Police, military brace for massive anti-Arroyo protest (9:40 a.m.)
MANILA -- Opposition groups demanding that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo step down were preparing a mass rally in the capital on Wednesday as police and the military went on alert warning of possible attacks on the protesters by Muslim extremists and communist rebels.
Organizers said the demonstration in Manila's financial district of Makati would unite a broad spectrum of opposition groups and parties in the biggest show of force since the political crisis erupted last month over allegations that Arroyo rigged the May 2004 election and her family received illegal gambling payoffs.
The president has apologized for talking to an election official before she was declared winner, but denied manipulating the ballot.
She has defiantly refused opposition calls to step down despite the mass resignation last week of 10 Cabinet members.
The rally will gauge public sentiment and show if the opposition can muster enough support to oust her in a "people power" revolt similar to the one that removed longtime dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada, Arroyo's immediate predecessor, in 2001.
On both occasions, the Roman Catholic Church and the powerful military withdrew their support from the presidents - but that hasn't happened this time.
Left-wing groups and supporters of Estrada - who has volunteered to serve as a transitional leader if Arroyo is ousted - said they expected about 40,000 people. The largest opposition protest so far has gathered up to 8,000 people.
About 6,000 police, including units from nearby 1,000 soldiers in charge of security for the Philippine capital, said metropolitan Manila police chief Vidal Querol.
He said officials were concerned that communist "infiltrators" would create trouble, recalling the bombing of a political rally in 1971 that killed nine people and wounded dozens.
The military in Manila also went on alert late Tuesday, citing "possible threats" from communist rebels and the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group "who may take advantage of the current political situation and conduct terrorist acts," said Capt. Ramon Zagala.
Among those calling for Arroyo's resignation are 10 former Cabinet members who quit last week and former President Corazon Aquino, who was swept into office after the ouster of Marcos.(AP)
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