Nearly one million people gathered in the Philippine capital Saturday for a government-organized "prayer rally" widely seen as a show of support for beleaguered President Joseph Estrada.
Estrada is under pressure to resign following bribery accusations.
Security was tight at the rally with helicopters hovering above the crowd which began gathering shortly after noon, forcing the closure of key roads.
Estrada has repeatedly insisted the rally had no political motive but the opposition charged it was intended as a government response to a huge anti-Estrada rally, led by Roman Catholic bishops, held on November 4.
At that rally, led by influential Philippine church leader and government critic Cardinal Jaime Sin, more than 60,000 people pressed Estrada to resign over allegations he received eight million dollars in payoffs from illegal gambling bosses.
Estrada has angrily denied the charges and said he will not step down. An opposition motion to impeach him is likely to be adopted by Congress Monday, after which he would face a Senate trial that could lead to his ouster.
Although the speakers at the Saturday rally did not directly mention the festering political conflict, many of the prayers called for peace and unity, especially among the national leadership.
"Let there be no more fighting among the leaders of our nation," a young girl said in a prayer addressed to the crowd, adding that "we can never achieve peace and unity if we are arguing with each other."
Brother Frank Rolla of the Jesus Miracle Crusade evangelical group, prayed "we do not want this disorder to flourish" and made special appeals for "our most beloved president of our nation, President Joseph Estrada."
The 63-year-old former movie star Estrada will lead prayers at the climax of the event in the sprawing Rizak Park, organizers said.
City police chief Avelino Razon said 2,500 policemen had been dispatched to secure the rally site with the help of about 400 civilian volunteers. Several people fainted while waiting under the sun.
The government said the rally was held in conjunction with the "national day of prayer and fasting for national strength and unity against all adversities."
It was attended by Catholic, Protestant and Christian evangelical groups, as well as Islamic teachers.
Estrada arrived at the rally by helicopter. He was scheduled to later deliver a prayer, but has said he would not make a political speech.
As he walked up the podium, he was greeted with chants of his nickname "Erap, Erap."
Unlike the anti-Estrada rally last week, which was marked with huge banners and placards calling for his ouster, there were few signs with political statements at the Rizal Park rally. Only one huge banner read "Prayer for peace."
Estrada earlier declared Saturday a non-working holiday to allow more people to join the prayer rally and there have been reports that some government agencies had asked their employees to attend.
The opposition has charged that some people were being forced to go while others were being paid to show up.
Manila police chief Razon was quoted as saying this could possibly become the biggest gathering in the capital since a major church rally five years ago -- MANILA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
