- Title: PHILIPPINES: FIVE THOUSAND PROTESTERS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ARROYO.
- Date: 24th June 2005
- Summary: (BN09) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 24, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: PROTEST RALLY WITH BANNERS READING "OUST ARROYO"; RIOT POLICE AMASSED IN LINES; MORE OF PROTESTERS AND RIOT POLICE (13 SHOTS) 1.35 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTEST LEADER RENATO REYES SAYING: "There are several pieces of evidence to show that Arroyo cheated in the past elections and her stay in power for the past year has been deemed illegitimate." 1.48 3. GV/MCU: PROTESTERS AND RIOT POLICE FACING OFF (2 SHOTS) 2.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th July 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVA2GD2UNI32R982KXMS6N6C6J4N
- Story Text: About 5,000 protesters march through central Manila
demanding President Arroyo quit office.
About 5,000 protesters took to the streets in
central Manila on Friday (June 24) to demand Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to quit amidst
allegations of wrong-doing that have rattled financial
markets.
The march was led by protesters carrying a banner
reading "Oust Gloria!"
Nothing has been proven but Filipinos have been riveted
by the war of words between Arroyo's accusers and her
government, which says there is a broader plot to undermine
and replace her.
The national police force was on full alert over the
rally in the capital by a loose coalition of opposition
politicians, leftist and Catholic groups. But there was no
violence as hundreds of riot police, backed by trucks,
blocked the route of the march.
"There are several pieces of evidence to show that
Arroyo cheated in the past elections and her stay in power
for the past year has been deemed illegitimate, " said
Renato Reyes, one those who led the rally.
The peso closed at 55.65 to the dollar after weakening
to 55.86 ahead of Friday's march. The currency had hit a
five-month low of 55.94 earlier in the week.
Rallies in recent weeks against Arroyo, whose ratings
are at a record low since she won a fresh term in 2004 by
beating movie star Fernando Poe Jr by about 3 percent of
the vote, have been limited to a few thousand or few dozen
marchers.
But the political opposition has been buoyed by
Arroyo's silence in response to audio recordings which it
says prove she cheated her way to victory.
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