It's countrywide, not just in Ayala (By the PDI Bureaus)

Manila, Philippines, October 26, 2014 (INQUIRER) - NATIONWIDE outrage over President Benigno Aquino III’s plan to change the Constitution, Marcos-style cronyism, to scrap the pork barrel and perceived threats to press freedom erupts today in Church-led street rallies in big cities and towns all over the country.

In Cebu, police units have been on red alert since noon yesterday to ensure that the “freedom march” at the Fuente Osmeña oval will be peaceful.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Cebu Archbishop-Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said he was not worried that trouble might erupt today as he expected the gathering to be peaceful.

“I have more faith in the Cebuano people. In Manila, I do not know. But here, I have more faith, after all we are on the same island,” he said in an earlier interview.

A small plane piloted by Capt. Pantaleon del Rosario, a businessman, is expected to “rain” aerofetti and confetti on the rally this afternoon.

“It's symbolic. It would show that the people are ready to oppose any Charter change on land, sea and air,” said Vicente Balbuena, chair of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya in Cebu.

Among those expected to join the rally are members of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Sugbuanong Pagpakabana and the Basic Ecclesial Communities from Cebu City.

In Negros, thousands of people will march today to rally sites in Kabankalan and San Carlos cities in the morning and in Bacolod and Dumaguete cities in the afternoon.

“People's camps” were set up yesterday afternoon on Magsaysay, Araneta, B.S. Aquino and Lacson streets in Bacolod.

Almost a hundred persons lighted torches and candles at the two rally sites “for press freedom.”

Fr. Greg Patino, Bacolod Diocese Social Action Center director, said about 100,000 people was expected to attend the rally in Bacolod.

He urged the participants not to be deterred even by possible rain. If Charter change is not stopped, he said, ''what will hit the country will be worse than a storm and the earthquake in Turkey.''

Protestants

In Iloilo, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC), an umbrella of 763 Protestant churches in the country, called on Mr. Aquino III to give dignity to his office by upholding press freedom.

In a statement, the CPBC asked the President to be transparent and allow the press to look into all dealings, decisions and transactions of the government.

In Aklan, Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes called on the faithful to attend the rally at Pastrana Park in the capital town of Kalibo this afternoon.

Reyes said he was displeased over the decision of Bro. Mike Velarde, founder and servant-leader of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International Roman Catholic Charismatic Religious Renewal Movement, to hold the birthday celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide founder, international president and spiritual director Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva and the annual founding anniversary celebration of the Evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic charismatic renewal religious group Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide movement simultaneous with the pro-democracy rally being initiated by actvisits in Makati City in time for the five-day pastoral and state visit of Pope Francis here in the Philippines on October 25 to 27.

Reyes said Velarde and Villanueva, as members of the Roman Catholic Church, should have at least shown some respect to the Manila archbishop.

In Tagbilaran City, Msgr. Leonardo Y. Medroso, bishop of Tagbilaran, said a symposium on Charter change would be held at the St. Joseph Cathedral.

Tumulak, who leads the People Resist Cha-cha Movement, said City Vice-Mayor Toto Veloso, Msgr. Antonieto Cabahug and a still unnamed priest would speak during the forum.

More militant groups are expected to mount a demonstration.

Davao City

In Davao City, the Davao Archdiocese and militant groups rejected calls by Mr. Aquino to call off today's rally as they hit back at the President for blaming anti-Charter change advocates for the recent economic jitters.

Fr. Leonardo Dublan, Davao Archdiocese Social Action Center director, said that for as long as President Benigno Aquino III would insist on amending the Constitution, mass actions would go on.

Today's rally will serve as a “grand opening salvo” for more protest activities if the Aquino III administration refuses to heed the clamor against Charter change, the Maguindanao Massacre case and the pork barrel fund scam, he said.

Glen Amoroso, secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Davao, said Mr. Aquino’s request to call off the rally was a sign that he was getting “nervous and worried” about the impact of the growing public outcry.

On Thursday night, some 800 students from seven universities and colleges lighted candles at the Freedom Park in Davao City. They later held a “Torch Parade for Freedom” on the main streets.

In Koronadal, a newly formed multisectoral group, called the South Cotabato People's Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy, will lead today's rally.

Alliance chair Peter Jabido said they expected up to 10,000 people from 11 towns to converge downtown.

''Today is just a beginning of the series of protest actions to be spearheaded by the multisectoral alliance to preserve the gains of Edsa and to resist anti-people policies of the Aquino administration,” Jabido said.

A rally will also be held in General Santos City, starting at 9 a.m.

In Mati, Davao Oriental, anti-Charter change groups vowed to intensify their protests.

Bishop Patricio Alo said they would drum up support for their campaign through the Church-run radio station dxBM, the pulpit and the streets.

Resolutions

The provincial board is also planning to adopt a resolution condemning Mr. Aquino’s plan to rewrite the Charter, repression of the critical press and cronyism, according to board member Anaclito Macatabog.

A similar resolution is being studied by the municipal council of Mati, said Councilor Eric Albao.

In Digos, Davao del Sur, the Democratic Initiative for Strengthening the Constitution and Against Resurging Dictatorship said the only way today's rally at 1 p.m. would be called off is for Mr. Aquino III to forget Charter change.

“He may employ all sorts of dirty tactics, including disruptions, but these will not prevent the people from expressing their opposition to the Cha-cha and pork barrel,” Antonio Navidad, Discord chair, said.

Transportation is expected to be paralyzed starting at 5 a.m. as tricycle drivers also promised to join the rally.

Simplicia Delada, spokesperson of Cause-DS, said the federation of tricycle drivers and operators pledged to stop plying their routes in sympathy with the anti-Charter change ralliers.

Bishop Generoso Camiña appealed to the public to attend the rally.

In Iligan City, a torch parade was held last night by the Ranao Tri-people Movement for Genuine Peace and Development, an alliance of government organizations and people's organizations, according to its chairperson Adona Orquillas.

Iligan Bishop Emilio Bataclan said the protest march in the city would start at 2 p.m.

Western Mindanao

In Pagadian City, rally organizers said they expected 20,000 people to converge in the city from various places in Western Mindanao.

Eugene Velez, chair of Alyansang Makabayan for Western Mindanao, said they anticipated some 20,000 people to join.

Rallies will also be held in Ozamiz, Dipolog, Oroquieta and Zamboanga cities and in Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, Velez said.

In Bicol, church and multisectoral group leaders yesterday firmed up their plans for today's protest rallies.

Fr. Jovic Lobrigo, Social Action Center head, said some 10,000 people from 40 church-based groups, people's and nongovernment organizations would attend the rally at the Freedom Park in Legazpi City.

Called “Marcha-Bicol” (Movement against Revision of the Charter-Bicol), the protest action will also be joined in by groups from Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, Lobrigo said.

The participants will include bishops, priests, lay leaders, students, and leaders of militant groups in the region.

Church-led groups will be holding a “Solidarity” rally in Daet, Camarines Norte.

The protest march in Legazpi will start at the Ninoy Aquino Park in Daraga town, Redemptorist Compound in Barangay Gogon and the St. Raphael Church.

Pangasinan

In Pangasinan, in lieu of a protest rally, church bells will ring at 3 p.m. on Sunday to call everyone to prayer, said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said central Pangasinan is “not rally and demonstration-conscious.”

He said that in deference to Pangasinenses, especially those in central Pangasinan, he had issued a pastoral letter calling Catholic faithful to pray as a show of concern over the issues raised during the rally.

In the circular letter to be read on October 27 and 28, Cruz urged everyone “to pray for our country, for its unity and peace, for its progress and prosperity under the rule of democracy.”

In Isabela, Catholic priests and devotees described the Charter change as an “outright oppression, morally wrong and should be rejected.”

The Roman Catholic Territorial Diocese of Ilagan said changing the Constitution at this time would affect Filipinos adversely.

Its pastoral letter, which will be read during Masses on Sunday, said Mr. Aquino’s plans would make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Members of the Catholic clergy and laity from Olongapo City and Zambales will join the rally in Makati City.

Fr. Alberto Avenido, social action director of the diocese of Iba, said Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez has issued a circular urging the Catholic clergy and lay people in the province to be ''patriotic in these trying times'' and oppose Charter change.

Baguio City

In Baguio City, officials of the Cordillera police assigned about 200 police officers to secure the parade grounds of the Burnham Park in Baguio City, where close to 2,000 persons are expected to rally today.

“I have been monitoring a signature campaign being conducted by students and this appeared to be the figure they are expecting to march today (Aug. 20). But we are certain the rally will not be too disruptive,” Chief Supt. Renato Paredes, Cordillera police director, said.

Members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and the League of Filipino Students in the city had gathered 1,200 signatures of people who are against Mr. Aquino’s plan to change the Constitution.

A member of the Baguio Colleges Foundation's Paralegal Volunteers Organization said students from seven colleges and universities in the city will be represented in today's march.

A CEGP candlelight ceremony to protest threats to press freedom was held last night on Session Road. Tonton Antocop, Froilan Gallardo, Carla P. Gomez, Nereo C. Lujan, Odon S. Bandiola and Chito A. Fuentes, PDI Visayas Bureau; Jowel F. Canuday, Aquiles Z. Zonio, Ferdinand O. Zuasola, Allan A. Nawal and Bobby Timonera, PDI Mindanao Bureau; Rey Nasol, PDI Southern Luzon Bureau; Catherine Aquino, Villamor Visaya Jr. and Vincent Cabreza, PDI Northern Luzon Bureau; and Henry Empeño, PDI Central Luzon Desk