THE government’s intimidation tactics no longer work, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said yesterday as he dismissed Malacañang’s statement that government would allow the holding of an interfaith rally but would monitor it for seditious statements.

"The more the administration and its cohorts hurt and oppress the people, the more they will become more decided to get rid of them … There is nothing stronger than the people’s fury," he said.

Cruz earlier said the interfaith rally, scheduled for Friday in Makati City, could lead to calls for the resignation of President Arroyo.

On Thursday, chief presidential counsel Sergio Apostol said rally participants who go overboard could be charged with sedition, which is punishable with life imprisonment.

Cruz said Malacañang’s threat "is the strong evidence that the government is getting more nervous and insecure."

Cruz said the public could no longer be intimidated because it has been awakened to the ills in government.

Civil society groups and members of the political opposition, supported by some members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the interfaith prayer rally is in response to the call of the bishops for "communal action" for truth, justice and accountability.

The call was made by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP president, amid the controversy hounding the administration over allegations of overpricing and bribery that attended the junked national broadband network project.

Cruz said despite the threat, the government can expect the "communal action" to continue until it achieves its purpose.

"The assembly will definitely just go on and on and neither will it be the last," he said.

Mass actions have been scheduled also for the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of Edsa 1 which ousted the Marcos regime.

A thanksgiving mass is set for Monday at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

A Mass set to be offered in Makati City on the same day was shelved to make way for the Sto. Domingo Mass.

Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay noted that it is at the Sto. Domingo Church where several Masses had been held in honor of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., whose assassination in August 1983 sparked nationwide outrage that eventually led to Edsa 1.