World | Philippines
Manila marchers demand president's resignation
About 5,000 protesters marched to a public park in the Philippine capital Manila on Friday, demanding President Gloria Arroyo quit over a corruption scandal.
- Reuters
- Published: 14:32 March 14, 2008
Manila: About 5,000 protesters marched to a public park in the Philippine capital Manila on Friday, demanding President Gloria Arroyo quit over a corruption scandal.
Carrying placards and banners with slogans "Goodbye Gloria" and "Oust the Evil, oust GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo)", the protest snaked through narrow and crowded roads, but was far smaller than a previous one last month.
"This regime should be made to account for their grave sins against the people," Ronaldo Lumbao, leader of the People's Movement Against Poverty, said. "We will continue to protest until we eventually take her out of power."
But the number of protesters was far below the estimated 30,000-50,000 activists who held an anti-Arroyo rally two weeks ago. One reason could be the upcoming Easter holidays, but a lack of impetus in the opposition campaign also played a part, analysts explained.
"Unless a new dramatic issue comes up or an alternative leader emerges who can capture the imagination of the people to take action outside the constitutional processes, the protests would not be a viable vehicle to remove Arroyo from power," Earl Parreno, an analyst at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said.
Arroyo was also bolstered because the 2010 presidential elections were drawing closer, with few in the opposition having the stomach for a battle to oust her with only about two years to go for her to retire.
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