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President Arroyo faces protests
by Vincent McKee
OVER Holy Week and Easter Week, the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, bore the brunt of popular anger and church-led protests at alleged human-rights breaches, electoral fraud, corruption, and manipulation of witnesses. A pastoral letter from the Roman Catholic bishops demanded “greater transparency and the restoration of integrity to public life”, and called on her to “take a positive lead in ending the endemic culture of corruption”. A declaration by the Philippines Council of Churches expressed similar sentiments. One of its leading figures, Edward Villanueva, a presidential challenger in 2004, joined three RC bishops and opposition leaders at a Holy Week rally in Manila, attended by 35,000. Other rallies were in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao. The country faces growing rice shortages. Disorder occurred in Manila and Cebu. On arrival in Hong Kong last Sunday for the Asian economic summit, President Arroyo was confronted by more than 1000 jeering Filipinos. Prayers are being offered for the former President, Cory Aquino, who has colon cancer. Mrs Aquino succeeded Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and led the country until 1992. |
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