Small turnout at Manila demo; protesters go shopping
15 Dec 2006 11:52:10 GMT Source: Reuters
(Recasts with small turnout for protests, adds quotes) By Manny Mogato MANILA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Christmas shopping and parties put a lid on expected large demonstrations against Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies on Friday with only a couple of hundred protesters taking to Manila's streets. The police had ordered a red alert in the capital and put thousands of troops on standby after anti-Arroyo groups said they would demonstrate against attempts, since abandoned, by the president's supporters to change the political system. "We were expecting about 3,000 people earlier but only a few turned up," Gilbert Cruz, police chief of Makati, Manila's financial district, told Reuters. "They are probably more interested in shopping and Christmas parties." Opposition by influential religious groups forced Arroyo's allies in the lower house of Congress to ditch plans this week to shift the country to a parliamentary system but bishops and other spiritual leaders still planned a mass prayer rally on Sunday. The Catholic hierarchy is a powerful political force in the Philippines, a largely Catholic country, and hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the rally in Manila's main park, despite Friday's poor turnout. Critics argue that attempts to drop the current U.S.-style presidential system were designed to extend Arroyo's powers by abolishing the Senate, packed with her foes, and allow her to extend her term in office. But analysts do not think the rally will trigger a campaign to oust Arroyo, who has survived two impeachment bids and one coup attempt, because the country's small middle class are fed up with political turbulence. CHRISTMAS PARTIES Most of the people protesting in Makati on Friday were factory workers and bank employees, who chanted anti-Arroyo slogans and carried candles and banners. "We could have brought more members here but our problem is that most banks are having their Christmas parties tonight," said Jun Umali, president of the National Union of Bank Employees. The government was trying to dissuade people from attending Sunday's rally, pointing out that the issue was dead and that rain was forecast. Arroyo's national security adviser also said on Friday that the Maoist-led New People's Army (NPA) could strike in Manila. "I received credible intelligence information that communist provocateurs will attempt to sow civil disorder and violent confrontations during the prayer rally scheduled on Sunday," said Norberto Gonzales. The NPA, active in 69 of 80 provinces, wages its insurgency in rural areas and has ordered its members to attack police and military units outside the capital this weekend. Opposition groups plan to join Sunday's rally but Church leaders have forbidden politicians to address the crowds and have banned political posters and flags. About 4,000 anti-riot police officers would be assigned to guard the prayer rally on Sunday and 13,000 officers were placed on high alert in the sprawling capital of 12 million people.
