IT’S all systems go for tomorrow’s anti-Cha-cha rally in Makati City.

Organizers said the mass action to be held on Ayala avenue starting 5 p.m. will be the opening salvo for a series of rallies against efforts by Malacañang allies to amend the Constitution.

Renato Reyes, secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said they are expecting the biggest mobilization so far against Charter change (Cha-cha) moves until next month when President Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Arroyo’s allies at the House last week rammed passage of a resolution convening Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass), leaving out the senators who are opposed to Charter amendments at this time.

"Their will be no let-up in our protests. The SONA would be a major political battleground insofar as pushing the Con-Ass is concerned. We hope to mobilize what could be the biggest SONA protest in Mrs. Arroyo’s eight years in office," Reyes said.

Reyes asked the public to join the protest action against Cha-cha which is seen leading to amendments that will allow President Arroyo and other officials to stay in power beyond May 2010.

Aside from Bayan, among other rally organizers are the United Opposition (UNO) and the Former Senior Government Officials, a group composed of senior Cabinet men from several administrations including Arroyo’s.

Also participating are civil society and militant groups like the Black and White Movement, Partidong Manggagawa, Laban ng Masa, Kubol ng Pagasa, Change Politics Movement, Artists Revolution, Pakisama, Piston, Akbayan and ACT Teachers party list.

Reyes said organizers would make sure the protest would be peaceful. "We will not let the regime exploit any untoward incident that may happen. It is all the more necessary now that we protest in order to derail the Charter change train."

Makati Mayor and UNO president Jejomar Binay said talks of yet another coup plot will not deter the people from joining the protest.

"Lumang tugutugin na yan. Every time there is a major political crisis for the administration and every time a major rally is scheduled, these talks of coup plots and destabilization conveniently surface," he said.

"The people will not be cowed. They have seen through the selfish motive behind Con-Ass," he added.

Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement said they are committed to stopping "this insane plan of the administration and they should stop trying to fool us."

The youth group Anakbayan said it will hold "classes" in the streets and invite pro-Cha-cha lawmakers so they could learn why the youth are against Cha-cha.

"From flooding their cellphone and email inboxes to boycotting them in the 2010 elections, it will be good for pro-Chacha lawmakers and officials to hear first hand how the youth plans to punish them for going against the people’s will. Baka sakaling matauhan sila" said Ken Ramos, Anakbayan chairman.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines and Solidarity Philippines told Arroyo and her allies to be wary of the people’s wrath.

"Repent now. Your end is near. The rally on Wednesday is just a build-up. The bigger push is still to come," said Fr. Joe Dizon, Solidarity convenor.

"If they still have human feelings left, they should now be trembling before the wrath of God… We hope they (government) would stop treating us as stupid," said Sr. Mary John Mananzan, AMRSP head.

Opposition Sen. Francis Escudero joined Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in the first rally initiated by city hall employees in Manila against Cha-cha.

"I call on the people to take the lead in opposing charter change now. I ask those who support cha-cha to end this madness," Escudero said after the flag-raising at the City Hall.

Escudero is chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws.

Lim described as treachery the passage of House Resolution 1109 and said it is an act intended to deprive the people of the right to choose their leaders.

Lim and Escudero led some 1,000 city hall employees in signing a manifesto saying "No to con-ass! The Manileños have spoken."

Administration lawmakers shrugged off as "hare-brained and irresponsible" a warning of Cha-cha critics that Arroyo might use impending mass actions as an excuse to declare martial law.

House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong (Maguindanao) and Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan (Lakas) accused opponents of the proposed amendment of the 1987 Constitution of unnecessarily alarming the public.

They said there is no basis for the President to even consider martial law.

The warning was attributed to Bayan Muna Representatives Teodoro Casiño and Satur Ocampo, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, and Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson.

Datumanong, who has served in Arroyo’s Cabinet as justice secretary, said placing the country under military rule has never been an option for the President in dealing with rallies and protests against her administration.

He reiterated that the approval of the constituent assembly resolution by the House last week was an initiative of the majority bloc and that Arroyo had no hand in the matter.

Domogan, a vice chairman of the House committee on justice, said the martial law scare is intended to stoke the people’s fear and muddle the real issues contained in the proposed amendments.

Speaker Prospero Nograles chided critics of HR 1109 for their "precocious and exaggerated reaction" even as he questioned the same personalities for their silence when the Senate passed Joint Congressional Resolution No. 10 which was proposal to change the system of government to federalism.

He advised politicians, Church leaders and civil society groups not to ‘waste their time creating monstrous traffic gridlocks’ through street protests and instead bring the issue to the Supreme Court.