BY ASHZEL HACHERO and ANTHONY IAN CRUZ

THOUSANDS converged yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino monument in Makati City to call for President Arroyo's resignation and prosecution of officials involved in graft and corruption.

They also expressed support for Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, the Senate's main witness in its inquiry into the national broadband network project that Arroyo cancelled last year amid allegations of payoffs.

Rally organizers said 10,000 to 12,000 participated in the protest action. The police figure was 8,000 at the peak around 5:30 p.m.

The organizers said talks are underway to mount the next protest action, tentatively set for the anniversary of Edsa 1 next week.

Today, a special "prayer service" for Lozada will be held at the Ultra in Pasig City to be led by Bangon Pilipinas president Bro Eddie Villanueva. Tomorrow, a Mass will be held at the De La Salle in Greenhills, San Juan.

Politicians and leaders of civil society and militant groups stayed at the sidelines as agreed on.

Among the speakers were "running priest" Robert Reyes, former Transportation undersecretary Josie Lichauco, Bishop Eliezer Pascua of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, and representatives of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Gabriela.

Employees in office attire joined the protest. Confetti rained on the protesters from the Manila Bankers Life building and the Philippine Stock Exchange Center on Ayala avenue.

The protesters chanted "Sobra na, Tama na, Kumilos na," the rally's theme, as they marched toward the Ninoy Aquino monument at the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas.

During the first hour of the rally, a police helicopter hovered over the rally site.

Activist priest Joe Dizon of Solidarity Philippines lambasted the "Diocese of Malacañang" for dissuading people from joining street protests.

He said the "communal action" being called by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines "means collective prayer and it also means demonstrations such as this."

Applause and cheers greeted the announcement of the arrival of Joey de Venecia, son of ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia.

'WE WILL OUST YOU'

Crowds went wild when lawyer Harry Roque and actress and scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza took over the program and led the singing of a popular rock anthem whose lyrics were changed for the occasion: "We will, we will oust you!"

Placed prominently beside the stage was a streamer lampooning Higher Education chair Romulo Neri's instruction to Lozada, which read: "Moderate your greed; Exterminate your greed."

Also eliciting chuckles from the crowd were giant streamers that read, "Proud to be a Probinsyanong Intsik," in an obvious reference to chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol's disparaging description of Lozada.

Protesters also poked fun at the "cloud-seeding operations" purportedly done by Malacañang as well as to the three closed-circuit cameras installed by the government on two lamp posts at Ayala avenue and Paseo de Roxas.

Common folk brought homemade placards bearing photos of Arroyo side by side with those of reptiles and snakes, while women's group Gabriela paraded a replica of the official presidential seal but with a papier mache crocodile placed across it.

'DESPERATE HOUSEHOLD'

Leaders of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, and other cause-oriented groups brandished lampooned movie posters.

One of them read "Desperate Household" which showed photos of Arroyo, husband Mike, resigned Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos and Neri.

Placards said "guilty, guilty" while a banner displayed a caricature showing Arroyo lying on bags of cash.

An image of the Arroyos, marked "couple in crime," was pelted with tomatoes while protesters chanted "enough is enough, overthrow Gloria."

Vigorous applause greeted speakers each time they called for President Arroyo's ouster or resignation.

Among the personalities in the rally were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona; Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay; former Senate president Ernesto Maceda; Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Liza Maza, Abby Binay, and Roilo Golez; Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico; San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito; film director Carlitos Siguion Reyna and mother Armida Siguion Reyna; Nini Quezon-Avanceña; lawyers Lorna Kapunan, Adel Tamano, JV Bautista, Argee Guevarra, Louie Sison and Ernesto Francisco; urban poor leader Carmen Deunida; and jueteng witness Sandra Cam.

Supporters of detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV sported Magdalo armbands.

ATTEMPTED CRIME

Binay asked the people to continue the campaign to hold accountable the Arroyo administration and officials involved in the mess.

"Siguro naman nakikita na natin ang kabulukan ng rehimeng ito. Panahon na para sama-sama tayong kumilos na labanan ang korapsyon sa ating lipunan," Binay said.

Guingona said the time for Arroyo's resignation is now, considering the widespread corruption in her administration.

He said even if the NBN project has been cancelled, there is still a case to be made and officials should answer the charges.

"Kung sa krimen may tina-tawag tayong attempted crime at consummated crime, dito bagama't ito ay di natuloy papasok pa rin ito sa attempted crime," he said.

BOILING POINT

Rep. Ocampo warned Malacañang of street protests could lead to a "boiling point" which could force the President out of office.

"The people's enlightenment from the truth behind the multi-million dollar NBN-ZTE scandal, coupled with sustained street protests backed by the Church could slowly lead to the boiling point of isolation of this corrupt and morally bankrupt administration," he said.

Ocampo reminded the President that resignation "remains a decent option for her to preserve any remaining respect for the presidency and for herself and her family."

"She should not wait for the time that even resignation will no longer be an option," he said.

Terry Ridon, student regent of the University of the Philippines, said the "P6 billion take in the ZTE-NBN scandal is equal to the annual budget of the entire UP."

Raymond Palatino, chairman of the Kabataang Pinoy party-list group, condemned the police for allegedly stopping rally participants along the North and South Luzon Expressways.

Among the groups represented in the rally were Partido ng mga Manggagawa, Laban ng Masa, Concerned Citizens Group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Partido ng Masa, Akbayan, the United Church of Christ of the Philippines, Gloria Step Down Movement, Alab Katipunan, Be Not Afraid Movement, Bayan Muna, Filipino Democratic Movement, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusan sa Pambansang Demokrasya, Sanlakas;

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Anakbayan, Liga ng Manggagawa, Kadamay, Freedom from Debt Coalition, League of Filipino Students, November 29 Movement, Pamalakaya, Migrante, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Karapatan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines;

Peoples Movement Against Poverty, All UP-Workers Union, United Masses for Democracy, Sinag Bayan, Philippine Airlines Employees Union, National Labor Union and Lila Filipina. - With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia