Water cannons disperse crowd
MANILA, Philippines — Police used water cannons to disrupt hundreds of marchers, including a number of nuns and priests, who were attempting to assemble for prayer near the offices of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The protesters were on their way to San Beda College in downtown Manila for a Mass organized by a coalition of groups seeking to replace Arroyo’s government with a government of national unity.
The next day, the president-elect of the Philippine bishops’ conference issued a statement that questioned the legality of the government’s “calibrated preemptive response” to street demonstrations. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro said the procession was “a crusade for good governance.”
Arroyo was been under increasing pressure because of charges of political corruption in her family and allegations that she tried to influence election officials.