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Aquino, Sin defend Davide |
By Blanche S. Rivera, Alcuin Papa and the PDI Northern Luzon,
Southern Luzon and Visayas Bureaus
Inquirer News Service
Pro-Davide rally
FOR THE FIRST time in almost three years, former President Corazon Aquino will
be marching in the streets -- this time to defend the integrity of Chief Justice
Hilario Davide Jr.
Aquino, one of the two leaders instrumental in the People Power uprisings of
February 1986 and January 2001, will speak at the protest rally scheduled at 2
p.m. Monday at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, to show her support
for Davide.
The other leader, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, also
defended Davide, whom he called "one of the most trusted Filipinos after
EDSA II."
Sin, the influential prelate who called on the people to rally to EDSA (Epifanio
delos Santos Avenue) in 1986 and 2001, called on the Catholic faithful to pray
for Davide in this "time of trial."
Last week, the Supreme Court chief was impeached by more than one-third of the
members of the House of Representatives, many of them identified with
businessman Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr., chairman of San Miguel
Corp.
Aquino and Cojuangco are first cousins.
Lourdes Siytangco, Aquino's spokesperson, confirmed the ex-President's
attendance at the rally, which was publicized through a heavy text campaign.
Protest rallies will also be staged across the Visayas, throughout Central
Luzon, and in the Southern Tagalog region.
And in San Fernando, Pampanga, a city which hosts two San Miguel complexes, the
campaign to boycott SMC products was backed both by business leaders and a
congressman.
Numerous pro-Davide text messages continued the swirl through the country's cell
phone systems. One even purported to give the cell phone number of
"Dishonorable Cong. Gilbert Teodoro who led Davide's impeachment." It
added: "Please call him or text him your dismay at him. Pls. pass."
The Visayas
In Cebu, Davide's home province, a noise barrage, a protest caravan and street
rallies are scheduled Monday.
Judges, court employees, businessmen, people from the religious group and other
sectors will also wear black Monday.
Cebu Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Pampio Abarintos said judges and court
employees nationwide would continue to wear black shirts, armbands or ribbons
until Congress withdraws the impeachment case or until the Senate decides to
stop the impeachment trial.
Abarintos did not discount the possibility of suspending court operations. This
will depend, he said, "if the situation calls for it."
Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia said he would not impose the wearing of black among
Capitol employees but provincial workers were free to wear black at work.
Davide supporters will meet at 5 p.m. at the Redemptorist Church grounds, in an
activity spearheaded by the newly organized Citizens for Judicial Independence.
Carlos Co, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he and
other representatives from different business organizations would join the
meeting.
Cebu City Representative Raul del Mar said he and other legislators would make a
last-ditch effort Monday to stop the transmission of the impeachment complaint.
In Bacolod City, the Peace Advocates of Negros (Pan), an organization of society
groups, called for the "impeachment from our votes" of Negrense
members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint.
27/10/2003
Bron : Inq7.net