One year countdown to end of Arroyo's term marked by protests
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/30/2009 10:56 PM
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MANILA - Various groups held a protest march against charter change today, exactly one year before President Arroyo's term expires.
The rains did not deter militant groups from holding a rally against charter change Tuesday, as they marched from Welcome Rotonda, Intramuros and Adamson University.
They were joined by Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, NBN-ZTE whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada and new Nacionalista Party member Adel Tamano.
Along the way, students from various schools joined the march.
By late afternoon, the protesters reached the Liwasang Bonifacio, where a program was held.
“Panimula lang ito ng marami pang pagkilos. Maawa naman si Gloria. Halata namang ayaw na ng tao sa kanya,” Lozada said.
“Bigyan naman ng pagkakataon ang mga tao na pumili ng sarili nilang pangulo ng 2010,” Lim said.
Other protesters converged at the Mabuhay Rotonda, but rains fell before they could march to the Liwasang Bonifacio.
But the downpour did not dampen their spirit. Instead it provided them with reason to display a variety of anti-charter change banners, placards and even umbrellas!
The rally also took a festive turn with people playing drums, whistles, and bamboo sticks.
During the march, some protesters sprayed painted walls and an overpass with anti-Arroyo and anti-charter change slogans, while others asked people to join their signature campaign.
Other groups that marched to the EDSA Shrine earlier gave the president an eviction notice.
They say that by this time next year, she should already be out of Malacañang.
They also hung a banner at a flyover infront of the shrine, but police promptly removed it after the protesters left the area. With reports from Ron Gagalac and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News
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