Manila: A series of protest rallies against Philippine President Benigno Aquino starting on Wednesday could widen a political storm building against him, analysts have said.

The demonstrations, called by various activist groups, could damage the leader’s legacy against corruption, as well as his efforts to make peace with Filipino-Muslims in the south, and make him a lame president until the end of his term in mid-2016, analysts said.

Protesters accuse Aquino of covering up details of a botched police operation to find wanted Malaysian militant Zulkifli Bin Hir in Maguindanao, in the country’s south, on January 25.

The incident claimed the lives of four civilians, 44 police special commandos, and 18 members of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which forged a pro-autonomy peace settlement with the Philippine government in 2014.

The police chief who was in charge of the operation, an Aquino ally, has been suspended.

“He might face impeachment complaints until the end of his term,” predicted political analyst Prospero de Vera, adding, “His preoccupation for damage control will also affect his campaign for more reforms with the help of Congress, and his campaign for the ruling party in the 2016 polls.”

The Senate and the House of Representatives have stopped reviewing a proposed law to enforce the pro-autonomy peace settlement forged between the Philippine government and MILF in 2014.

Aquino’s supposed legacy, the completion of the peace process with the MILF that would transform Mindanao from a battle-scarred region to a growth area, might be delayed, de Vera said.

In preparation for protest rallies on Wednesday, during the 29th commemoration of the people-backed military mutiny that ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and propped up Mrs Corazon Aquino to the presidency in 1986, businessman Manny Lopez, explained the aim of 2/22 Coalition (his group): “We want President Aquino, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Franklin Drilon, and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte to step down and pave the way for overall reform.”

“An advisory body will lead the country,” said Tingting Cojuangco, former governor of Tarlac, central Luzon, the president’s aunt, and a member of the National Transformation Council, another protesting group.

“This is not a coup but a constitutional process,” explained Cojuangco whose husband Peping is the brother of the late Mrs Aquino. The two Cojuangcos have alienated leftist groups, but Bayan, a militant group promised to form a “human chain” during the people-power celebration on Wednesday.

“Protesters represent institutions and members of civil society, but not the military, the police, the entire Catholic Church and businessmen whose participation could dent Aquino’s staying power,” observed former Senator Ping Lacson.

The presidential palace has said Aquino will step down at the end of his term in June 2016, after the May 2016 presidential polls.