Military

DATE=7/16/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES/PROTESTS (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-325979

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

DATELINE=MANILA

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: Tens-of-Thousands Turn Out To Support Embattled Philippine President

INTRO: Tens-of-thousands of people gathered in a Manila park Saturday to show support for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is fighting to hold on to her presidency, after allegations she cheated in the 2004 elections. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Manila says, organizers were trying to counter mounting pressure on Mrs. Arroyo to resign and a large opposition protest earlier in the week.

TEXT: They came in droves, filling dozens of chartered buses and vans to rally in support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gathering in Manila's Rizal Park, tens-of-thousands of people, some carrying banners proclaiming their allegiance to the president, sat in the hot afternoon sun to listen to speeches from politicians and prayers from priests.

But some people came for the free handouts. Standing with a crowd of several hundred other families, waiting patiently in line for a free carton of Coca-Cola, Maria Ramirez says she is not interested in politics.

///RAMIREZ ACT ///

"Waiting for the Coke. We want to drink Coke."

/// END ACT ///

Thousands of police guarded the rally. Dino Valdez, from the Philippine National Police, says the event passed off peacefully.

/// VALDEZ ACT ///

"Very peaceful, everything is in order."

/// END ACT ///

Earlier this week, 40-thousand people turned out in Manila's financial district to demand that Mrs. Arroyo resign.

Although it was the largest protest yet against Mrs. Arroyo's presidency, it fell far short of the hundreds-of-thousands of people who turned out to topple two previous presidents, Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001.

Police said Saturday's pro-Arroyo rally drew about 120-thousand people, but other estimates were much lower. Organizers of the event, including local government officials and religious groups, say they hope the large turnout will help Mrs. Arroyo stay in office.

Mrs. Arroyo appears to be weathering the political storm so far, and may endorse a plan that 17 political parties, including her own, have on the table, a switch from a presidential government system to a parliamentary one.

Elizabeth Arobang, who attended Saturday's rally, along with her family, says she came to support the rule of law, and did not want to see Mrs. Arroyo forced from office.

///AROBANG ACT ///

"We are here because, we believe in the stand of our city government of Manila that the resolution of this problem should be based on the rule of law."

/// END ACT ///

Saturday's rally in support of Mrs. Arroyo was attended by thousands of families, many of whom took the opportunity to have a picnic in the park, while local government officials made speeches. (SIGNED)

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