Thousands of Filipino Christians Pray for Estrada's Swift Resignation

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin, led a prayer rally by a broad coalition of Christians and activists in the Philippines capital December 7 to urge President Joseph “Erap” Estrada to resign immediately.

On the first day of impeachment hearings against the president, thousands of protesters, many of them Catholics, crowded into Manila’s Roxas Boulevard to attend an open-air service described as a “protest Eucharist” and “prayer of the people.” Most of those present represented Catholic parish councils and schools, as well as universities, business clubs, workers and women’s groups.

“Mr. President, do not be afraid to resign,” Cardinal Sin said in his homily. He told the president, a former star of action films: “I will take care of you. Resignation is not defeat. Only brave men do that.”

He added: “The truth is you have lost your moral ascendancy to govern us. Face the truth, and be courageous. The country is already suffering.”

Among those on stage with the cardinal were several Catholic bishops, former president, Corazon Aquino, the vice-president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and student representatives from Catholic schools. The protest was organized by a coalition of trade unions, political parties and citizens’ rights groups.

Former president Aquino told protesters that resignation was a “kinder solution” to the crisis that had engulfed the Philippines government. Speaking before the start of the Mass, Aquino said it was not too late for Estrada “to do what is right in the service to the nation.”

Estrada’s refusal to step down had put the country on an “agonizing” track, with the economy spiraling out of control because of his extravagance and incompetence, Aquino said.

Pressure for the president to resign or be impeached has grown since early October when provincial governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, one of Estrada’s closest friends, claimed that the president had received US$8 million in bribes from gambling tycoons.

Other reports suggested that the president had also appropriated US$2.6 million in cigarette excise taxes and acquired mansions for his mistresses. Because of the crisis, the Philippine peso has fallen to record lows since October.

After the Mass, about 80,000 protesters assembled outside the Malate Catholic Church in Manila to walk to the Philippine Senate, where the first impeachment action in Philippines history had just begun.

Estrada is accused of violating the constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The impeachment trial is due to finish by 15 January 2001. A two-thirds vote by the Senate is needed to convict Estrada.

Officials from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) were present at the rally. The NCCP executive committee said in a statement on 9 November: “The hour has come for President Estrada to confess and repent. This means stepping down from power to pave the way for forgiveness and reconciliation. The president has lost any moral ascendancy to govern.”

The UCCP has spoken out twice on the issue. On November 8, the UCCP Council of Bishops said in a statement that whether “proven innocent or guilty, President Estrada has wreaked [so much] havoc upon his credibility and integrity as a leader that the nation will remain fractured and divided, and the confidence of the Filipino people will be forever lost under his leadership.” The bishops criticized his leadership as “pathetic and detestable.” The present crisis was caused, they said, by the fact that Estrada seemed to be “dominated by the counsel of cronies, crooks and thieves.” They also accused him of flaunting his extramarital affairs, his alcoholism and his association with gamblers.

The UCCP urged all local churches, institutions, church workers and members to support the national campaign for the removal of Estrada. The UCCP also warned that politicians would use the crisis to win political points for the May 2001 elections. “It is the marginalized Filipino who suffers the most in this game of politicking, pre-election gimmickry and alleged toleration of illegal activities,” the church declared.

A daily vigil and marches are continuing in front of the Senate building in Manila. At the same time many Filipinos here and abroad are relaying anti-Estrada messages via mobile phones and the Internet. A Web site has been set up to keep protesters abreast of developments.

The president has welcomed impeachment proceedings saying he wants his name cleared. He added he was happy to entrust his fate “to God and to the sense of fairness and justice of the senators.” During yesterday’s protest, about 10,000 of his supporters held a counter-demonstration outside the Senate, shouting “Erap, Remain.” But one of his staunchest supporters, Mike Velarde, leader of the large El Shaddai charismatic community, stayed away.

Elected president two-and-a-half years ago for a six-year term, Estrada frequently reminds the public that he won the biggest number of votes in Philippine electoral history.