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Philippines: Estrada’s One Million Supporters Cannot Stop Impeachment
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Embattled Philippines President Joseph Estrada pulled a crowd estimated at between half a million to one million in Manila in an attempt to show his political capital. Meanwhile, another crowd of a several thousand, with a strong Muslim presence, gathered to call for his resignation.
Estrada is facing impeachment following an illegal gambling scandal which may be linked to his office, and which could bring his downfall after only two years at the helm of power.
The impeachment trial starts this week with the senate calling in witnesses. Estrada said he is prepared to surrender himself for grilling at the senate hearing and called for the impeachment to be carried out as soon as possible.
The rally participants, who came from cities and towns outside of the capital Manila, gathered at the sprawling bayside Rizal Park for a “prayer rally”.
The gathering is widely seen as a show of force meant to dwarf last week's 50,000 strong anti-Estrada rally organized by the “united opposition”, business leaders and Catholic bishops.
Filipinos are divided on whom to believe in the illegal betting scandal called the “jeutengate”, a recent survey showed. The survey also said that Muslims in the Philippines support an Estrada impeachment, hoping this will end his presidency.
The mammoth attendance at the government-organized “prayer rally” is seen as a major boost for the President who had been severely weakened by a stream of defections by key political allies and numerous resignation calls by Estrada’s government.
Administration officials said the massive turnout is proof that Estrada still enjoys strong public support.
“We should spread this message of national reconciliation,” said Robert Aventajado, chief organizer of the event.
The President was "touched by the huge outpouring of support for his call to the people to set aside their political differences and to offer prayers for national unity and reconciliation,'' he said.
Like a triumphant hero, Estrada emerged from the stands with First Lady Luisa Ejercito-Estrada to deafening applause.
The rally was mainly made up of adherents from different Christian groups, infinite numbers of Islamic factions and hoards of public transport drivers.
No political speeches were made, but in his seven-minute prayer, Estrada's call for peace, unity, and reconciliation was in obvious reference to the political crisis engulfing his administration.
“We pray that each of us will be enlightened so that all our deeds will benefit all, especially our economy,” Estrada said to loud applause.
Since the illegal gambling scandal broke on October 4th, the Filipino peso had lost its value by nine percent.
Luis "Chavit" Singson, governor of the northern Ilocos Sur province, had accused Estrada of being the godfather of a well-entrenched illegal gambling racket.
He said the President pocketed $8 million in gambling payoffs and $2.6 million in tobacco tax kickbacks.
Estrada said he never accepted bribe money from illegal gambling, but admitted on Thursday $4 million, supposedly a “donation” from Singson, went into the bank account of the Muslim Youth Foundation, a scholarship fund he put up to provide scholarships to gifted Muslims.
Bashary Abdullatiph, of the Lanao del Sur Medical Society, said Estrada even had the gall to use Muslim youths as "scapegoats" in the "jueteng" controversy.
"Muslims would never accept money from gambling," Abdullatiph said, referring to the President's claim that jueteng money from Singson found its way into the Muslim Youth Foundation.
"How dare Estrada say he helped Muslims’ youths? Thousands of Muslim children have stopped going to school because of his all-out war policy against the Muslims," said Baicon Cayongcat-Macaraya, chair of the Bangsamoro Youth Assembly.
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