Thousands of Negrenses marched into the Bacolod public plaza demanding the truth from government on allegations of corruption, with others going a step further by calling for the ouster of the President, amid the tolling of church bells yesterday afternoon.

More snowballing of this people’s communal actions is the best way to draw out the truth from the President, Neri Colmenares, lawyer of Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada, who spoke at the rally, said.

“GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) does not listen to institutions, like the Supreme Court or the Senate, but the people will force her to listen, I am sure of that,” he said.

“The people forced Ferdinand Marcos to listen in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2000, this time around I am very hopeful people will force GMA to tell the truth or suffer the consequences,” Colmenares said.

Yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt.

The fact that the president admitted to approving a disadvantageous National Broadband Network contract is damming evidence against her, he said. She not only knew it but actually benefited from it, he claimed.

The fact that she approved a contract that is disadvantageous to the Filipino people is already a violation of the anti-graft act, it is definitely grounds for her impeachment, Colmenares said.

The media placed the crowd composed mostly of students and parishioners at yesterday’s rally organized by the United Negrenses Yearning for Truth in Bacolod at about 10,000 at its peak but the numbers quickly dwindled as people dispersed.

Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, one of the rally organizers, placed the crowd at 15,000, while Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, Bacolod police director, said it was between 5,000 to 6,000 at its peak.

Navarra said yesterday’s rally was not the last of the protests set in Negros, an inter-faith prayer rally is also set at the Bacolod public plaza on Friday to call for peace and truth so the country will be free.

It is very clear that there was an anomaly in the National Broadband Network deal, the people should complain and ask the president to explain and account for it, he said. 

Navarra has stopped short of calling for the ouster of the President in line with the position of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines.

As long as the truth is bared, the people can make their own judgment, he said.

The CBCP is set to meet today to take into consideration the current national situation, Navarra said, but added that he could not say if it would change its position on whether the president should resign or not.

“This is the beginning of the end of the reign of thieves and liars in the government,” Fr. Ireneo Gordoncillo said.

“The rally we are witnessing is only the beginning of the protests against Arroyo – it will continue until change and reforms are achieved in our government,” he said.

Fr. Felix Pasquin said the number of people who attended yesterday’s protest was very encouraging, it is an indication that their hearts are against corruption in government.

Pasquin said he wishes the CBCP decides on calling for the ouster of the president.

Bishop Emeritus Roman Tiples of the Philippine Independent Church said the PIC has been calling on the president to resign since December.

The Arroyo administration is morally bankrupt, he said.*CPG

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