Thousands gather at Baclaran church to hear mass for truth

Thousands of Arroyo critics have started gathering for a Mass for truth in Baclaran church to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 people power uprising that led to the ouster of then President Ferdinand Marcos. Hundreds of militants also gathered at Mabuhay rotunda at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City for a march to historic Mendiola bridge near Malacanang Palace to press for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Meanwhile, pro-Arroyo groups had their own gathering called Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. The people gathered at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran cheered upon seeing Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr, key witness in the Senate investigation of the allegedly anomalous $329.48-million contract of china's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Corp. (ZTE) for the government's national broadband network project. Lozada, who became an instant celebrity after linking First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos to irregularities in the ZTE contract, was visibly overjoyed with the warm reception as he waved to the crowd and shook hands with some of them. He was seated beside former President Corazon Aquino, who was installed to power following a four-day bloodless revolt on EDSA 22 years ago, on the first pew of the church. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Georgina de Venecia, leaders of the civil society group Black and White Movement and other celebrities who have identified themselves with the call for the resignation of President Arroyo were at the Baclaran church. The militants who gathered at Mabuhay rotunda were led by Bayan Muna. Speaker Prospero Nograles was among those who turned up at the pro-Arroyo rally at Liwasang Bonifacio. - GMANews.TV