BY ASHZEL HACHERO

AN interfaith prayer rally scheduled this afternoon in Makati City is expected to gather at least 50,000 participants, including former President Joseph Estrada and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, head of the Jesus is Lord Movement.

Estrada, after a "Mass for Truth" yesterday at the University of Makati, said he supports the call of fellow former President Corazon Aquino for the resignation of President Arroyo.

The rally, with the theme "Katotohanan, Katarungan at Pagbabago" and organized by the Church-based group Solidarity Philippines, will be attended by militant, student, opposition and other sectoral groups that have been calling for Arroyo's ouster on the ground she has lost the moral authority to govern.

Rally participants are advised to bring their rain gear as the weather bureau said Metro Manila will have cloudy skies and possible rains.

The three-hour prayer rally at the Ninoy Aquino monument at the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas avenues will start at 5 p.m.

At 2 p.m., Villanueva's group will hold a worship program and later join the rally. Villanueva has reportedly promised to bring 100,000 members.

Other religious groups will gather at the Gabriela Silang monument at Ayala and Makati avenues and march to the monument. The groups include Solidarity Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Promotion of Church People's Response, Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan, Kairos Philippines, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, United Methodist Church, Iglesia Filipina Indepen-diente, and the Inter-Faith Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Network.

They will start the march to the monument at 3:30 p.m.

An hour later, seminarians from the St. Andrews Theological Seminary would perform the "pattong," a Cordillera unity dance, while the religious leaders walk from the Ninoy Aquino monument toward the main stage.

Militant groups led by Bayan, which has promised to bring 20,000 protesters, will join the rally at 3 p.m. Bayan said it has prepared a 20-foot long effigy depicting Arroyo as a "devil snake" holding a gun and bundles of money.

Estrada said he would march from the Makati Fire Station near the Ayala avenue extension to the monument.

He said he would be joined by other opposition figures including Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay and former members of his Cabinet.

The program will start with an opening message from a leader of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines.

Among those who will say prayers on stage are Villanueva, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Bishop Tomas Millamena of Iglesia Filipina Independiente, and Sister Mary John Mananzan of the Association of Major Religious Superiors.

The rally includes a candle-lighting ceremony and will end with a cultural presentation.

COVERUPS

At the "Mass for Truth" attended by thousands and officiated by Bacani, Estrada said UNO asked him to attend the rally and lead the people in the search for truth regarding the allegations of corruption against the President, her husband, and high-ranking government officials in the anomalous national broadband network project.

"All of us freedom loving Filipinos want to get to the bottom of this controversy," he said.

Estrada said he would not appear on stage because the ordinary people should take the lead in the mass action.

Asked to describe the Arroyo administration, Estrada said it is like hard-bound cover because of Arroyo's alleged expertise in staging cover-ups for every graft and corruption case.

"Ipinaglihi ata sa cover-up," he said referring to Arroyo.

Estrada called on Romulo Neri, who was director general of the National Economic and Development Authority when the alleged overpriced NBN deal was being processed, to tell the public what he really knows about the deal.

"Nananawagan ako kay Secretary Neri na wag matakot dahil nasa likod mo ang sambayanan. Susuportahan ka ng ating mga kababayan kagaya ng suportang ibinigay nila ngayon kay (Senate witness) Jun Lozada. Hindi mo maaaring itago ang katotohanan habang buhay at ito ay dadalhin mo sa konsinsya saan ka man makarating," Estrada said.

"We have suffered enough from this administration for too long. Our country is being robbed not only by the millions but by the billions kaya nabansagan tayong No. 2 most corrupt country in the world at No. 1 most corrupt country in Southeast Asia," he added.

A DWARF IN THE PALACE

Bishop Bacani, in his homily, likened Arroyo to a "duwende (dwarf) who he said continues to cast a spell on the Filipinos through cover-ups of corruption in her administration.

"Meron pong nakatira sa Malacañang eh parang duwende na lang. sabi noon nung maliliit pa kami kapag ikaw ay maliligaw, ikaw ay na-duwende. Babaligtarin mo ang iyong damit para di ka na maduwende. Ewan ko kung anong gagawin ninyo sa mga nangyayari sa ngayon," he said.

He slammed the administration for spending its resources to hide the truth in the NBN deal while poverty and injustice continue to reign.

Among those who also attended the Mass were former senator Ernesto Maceda, former Trade secretary Jose Pardo, Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Batangas Vice Gov. Ricky Recto, and Representatives Roilo Golez, Abigail Binay, Teofisto Guingona III, and Crispin Beltran.

LIBERTIES NOT ABSOLUTE

Malacañang said Estrada should not take too much liberties when he joins the interfaith rally today.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said Estrada can join the prayer rally because he is now a free citizen.

"We welcome the exercise of his liberties," Golez said but reminded Estrada the exercise of his liberties is "not absolute and therefore must still be within the confines of our laws."

Donald Dee, chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the participants should be more discerning of what it happening around them instead of joining the mass action for the sake of joining.