Manila: The government has scheduled a rally in support of the allies of President Benigno Aquino who are acting as prosecutors at the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Senate, according to media reports.

Local papers said that the planned rally is meant to avert the effects of pro-Corona statements given by Catholic bishops and the pro-Corona rally being prepared by an influential non-Catholic church group.

"President Aquino must tone down his rhetoric if he wants to avoid street demonstrations. He appears to be encouraging them (because) Sec. Ronaldo Llamas is organizing a big (anti-Corona) rally on February 25," said columnist Ernesto Maceda of the Philippine Star.

Two weeks ago, Aquino's Budget Secretary Florencio Butch Abad was allegedly rebuffed when he requested for a meeting with Eduardo Manalo, executive minister of Church of Christ (INK), to discuss Corona's impeachment trial, said the Star's columnist.

Corona's lawyer, Serafin Cuevas, is an INK member. He is also representing National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Magtanggol Gatdula, an INK member who was ousted from his job while undergoing investigation for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping of a Japanese national.

The government has to tone down the possible impact of an INK-sponsored religious rally to be attended by one million members at the Quirino Grandstand on Manila's Central Park on February 28, said religious political analyst Alfredo Crespo.

The INK has also scheduled simultaneous rallies to be attended by a total of two million members in Visayas, central Philippines, and in Mindanao, southern Philippines.

Earlier, INK members held pro-Corona rallies in front of the Supreme Court's office prior to the impeachment trial; INK members have joined pro-Corona rallies in front of the Senate office's office since the start of the impeachment trial.

The influential Catholic Church has not categorically expressed support for INK's rally on February 28, but Catholic bishops have released pro-Corona statements.

Bishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, southern Luzon, recently asked the Senate to stop Corona's impeachment trial.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Pangasinan openly expressed support for Corona.

Bishop Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran, central Philippines, reacted to Aquino's call for "people power" in ousting Corona despite the ongoing impeachment trial at the senate.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Roderick Pabillo told Standard Today that the impeachment trial had "drawn away" the president's attention on important issues the country.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines called for Corona's fair trial.

These developments made Aquino's presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda defensive.

"It (Senate impeachment trial) may not be a biblical solution to his (Bishop Arguelles') perspective (in solving the problem with Corona), but it is a constitutional solution when it comes to removing government officials," Lacierda told Standard Today.

"Where was Oscar Cruz when we were making calls for the truth to come out (about Corona)? Shouldn't the church be for truth?" asked Lacierda.