Erap vows to lead people vs Cha-cha

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on Wednesday threatened to lead the people to the streets if the pro-Charter change lawmakers would insist on amending the 1987 Constitution. At the same time, Estrada assured the administration that he would give them a good fight if they tinker the Charter even if they threaten to imprison him again. "I have always said that I will fight to the hilt any moves to change the Constitution," Estrada said in a statement. "I will lead the people in the streets to make our voice heard if I have to...even if they (the administration) threaten to imprison me again. I have always maintained that my freedom is only secondary to the freedom of the Filipino people, including freedom from abuse by this administration," he added. His spokesperson, Margaux Salcedo, meanwhile, said since allies of President Arroyo work as “puppets" instead of being true representatives of the people, the public then would have to take the streets in order to be heard. "It is injustice against the Filipino people when their congressmen work as puppets of the administration that is why it looks like the people will have to speak for themselves in the only avenue left for them to speak - on the street," she said. Salcedo likewise reiterated that any moves to tinker the Constitution would not advance because majority of Filipinos abhor the tiniest possibility that the President would extend her stay in power. "It is only in the House, through administration allies, that this possibility is being forced open," Salcedo said. Estrada also welcomed the call of El Shaddai leader, Bro. Mike Velarde that he would gather one-million of his followers to take part in street protests against the campaign of Mrs Arroyo's allies in the House of Representatives for the amendment of the Charter. Velarde, the spiritual leader of Mrs Arroyo, earlier called on the President to use her “persuasive powers" to influence her allies in the House to stop Cha-cha. If not, Velarde vowed to take the matter into the streets. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV