- Title: PHILIPPINES: MASS RALLY IN MANILA TO PRAY FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS
- Date: 28th October 1969
- Summary: RIZAL PARK; STUDENTS; BANNERS; PARTICIPANTS; BISHOP LEADING PRAYERS. Initials KM/VS/DW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 12th November 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVA5T9O2MUO4Q8XB8K7OXM1RDBGJ
- Story Text: WITH THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY, A MASS RALLY WAS HELD AT RIZAL PARK IN MANILA LAST SATURDAY AT WHICH FILIPINOS OF ALL FAITHS PRAYED FOR PEACE ON BALLOTING DAY (NOVEMBER 11).
INCUMBENT PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS, WHO IS SEEKING HIS SECOND TERM, IS BEING CHALLENGED BY SENATOR SERGIO OSMENA, THE 53-YEAR-OLD LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION LIBERAL PARTY. SO FAR THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN MARKED BY MUD SLINGING AND BLOODSHED.
AS POLLING DAY FOR THE 10 MILLION FILIPINOS APPROACHES THE PACE OF KILLING INCREASES. IN OUTLAYING PROVINCES POLITICAL GANGSTER HAVE BEEN TERRORISING AND MAIMING PEOPLE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. EARLIER THIS MONTH 10 FILIPINO SECURITY GUARDS WERE GUNNED DOWN ON A HIGHWAY NEAR THE AMERICAN NAVAL STATION AT TARLAC IN HUKLANDIA TO PREVENT ELECTIONS TAKING PLACE AT ALL CENTRAL LUZON. IN THE SOUTHERN MOSLEM PROVINCES OF LANAO AND THE ISLAND OF SULU WARLORDISM RAGES UNCHECKED.
POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THAT THE ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED ON THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF THE CAMPAIGN MACHINES. IT WS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT LAST SATURDAY'S PEACE RALLY WAS HELD. AMONG PROMINENT PEOPLE ATTENDING WAS BISHOP YAP, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND MR. JAIME FERRER, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS.
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