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Monday, February 25, 2008
Military, police stand by Arroyo as protesters call for ouster (12 p.m.)
MANILA -- Military and police generals pledged their support for embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday as a deepening corruption scandal unleashed a fresh wave of nationwide protests on the anniversary of a "people power" revolt.
National Police Director Avelino Razon imposed a weeklong ban on carrying guns in public as a "preventive measure" to ensure order amid coup rumors.
Razon and military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon ruled out a repeat of the iconic 1986 uprising, when hundreds of thousands of unarmed protesters faced off against tanks and troops to end Ferdinand Marcos' 22-year dictatorship.
Scattered crowds of demonstrators were out on the streets again Monday - left-wing protesters, Roman Catholic church-backed groups, students, teachers and civil society activists - demanding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's resignation at rallies held in 15 cities.
They have been galvanized by anti-corruption hearings at the Senate that exposed an anomalous telecommunications contract that allegedly involved kickbacks to senior officials and the president's husband.
All those involved have denied the allegations. But Arroyo caused more stir Saturday by acknowledging she was warned last April about possible corruption in the US$330 million contract with Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corp. - but signed it anyway, only to scrap it five months later.
She has ordered an investigation.
After a flag-raising ceremony at the "people power" monument, about 20 military and police generals locked arms in a "unity march" with about 4,000 police officers in a move to dispel swirling coup rumors.
"This is our expression... that our countrymen should not be concerned with rumors of destabilization," said Esperon.
The military played a key role in the 1986 uprising as well as in 2001, when commanders withdrew support from President Joseph Estrada as thousands took to streets to topple him on corruption charges.
Arroyo, Estrada's vice president, took over the presidency and won her own six-year term in 2004, but critics accused her of cheating.
A losing bidder in the broadband project has testified in the Senate that Arroyo's husband and the country's elections chief - who has since quit - threatened him to make him abandon his proposal because they were allegedly promised huge commissions.
Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Sunday he would urge Senate committees investigating the deal to look into Arroyo's statement that she knew it was suspect and assess whether she violated anti-graft laws.
"We all know I am not perfect," Arroyo said in a speech Sunday.
"But I have worked hard every day to achieve positive and lasting change for the nation."(AP) |
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