Bishops Tobias and Iñiguez raise clenched fists during Bonifacio Day rally in Balintawak

Two Catholic bishops on Sunday again lashed at President Arroyo and her men during a rally at the Bonifacio Monument in Balintawak in Caloocan City, saying that they will continue to do so even it if leads to their arrest.

Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez and Antonio Tobias also blasted Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez during their speech at the Balitawak rally for aiming sedition charges against them in their pursuit to change the government leadership.

The two bishops earlier urged Filipinos to get inspiration from the protests in Thailand in seeking the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo.

They repeatedly claimed that Mrs. Arroyo is trying to maintain her illegitimate grip on power beyond 2010 by pushing Charter change (Cha-cha).

Bishop Tobias of Novaliches said replacing the president should be no problem since there are many personalities who are more able and deserving than Mrs. Arroyo.

“But we shouldn’t disclose names, they’ll surely kill him,” said Bishop Tobias in the vernacular.

The Catholic bishop also took a swipe against the political allies of Mrs. Arroyo, claiming that they have already set the stage for their drama.

The Catholic leaders also attacked Gonzalez for his threat to have them investigated for calling the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo.

“Who is this old ‘secretary of injustice’ He reportedly would add a case against me. What else can he do to another old man like me,” said Bishop Tobias in the vernacular.

For his part, Caloocan Bishop Yñiguez said they will have no other recourse should Gonzalez have them arrested.

“We would offer ourselves,” the bishop said in the vernacular.

Former Quezon City mayor Jun Simon, meanwhile, claimed witnessing the planning made by administration congressmen to junk the latest impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo.

Simon said the planning was done inside the office of House Speaker Prospero Nograles the night before the complaint was dismissed.

"Congressman Pichay went into a room there they cooked up the impeachment plan," said Simon in the vernacular.

Other avenues
Anti-Arroyo groups said they will again launch a massive rally composed of militant organizations, civil society groups and the opposition to block Cha-cha.

“When and where, those are the only things that are being prepared, " said Renato Reyes , Bayan secretary general, in the vernacular.

The complainants in the impeachment case also plans to file a complaint at the House ethics committee against the congressmen who junked their case.

"This fight is not over, we want [the] congressmen to be accountable," said Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, son of the former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

For his part, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III said the time is ripe to form a caretaker government because of the current “political crisis”.

"This will pave the way for a clean 2010 elections, will normalize duly elected president that we can trust," said Guingona.

But he admitted that a caretaker government can be created only if the president resigns from her post.

The Black and White (BNW) movement will also make their own move to block Cha-cha by pursuing their case before the Supreme Court.

"We believe Supreme Court cannot be bought or swayed except by their conscience," said BNW spokeswoman Leah Navarro.

These actions, however, will be useless according to Ed Malay, spokesman of one of the Arroyo administration’s political parties, Lakas.

Malay said Mrs. Arroyo has no plan to stay in power beyond 2010.

He added that it is unlikely for the public to support another people power. Filipinos nowadays are more concerned about their means of survival rather than politics.

"People have become so passive, so problematic that they are much more concerned on providing for their meals three times a day... it [people power] will not catch fire," said Malay.

Erap makes his own call
Former president Joseph Estrada meanwhile also made his call for a change in leadership.

In his speech at the National Congress of the People's Movement Against Poverty Sunday the change leadership is only solution to country’s problems of poverty.

"Our only hope for change now is through a change in administration, a change in leadership. Because this country needs someone who respects government institutions, someone who respects electoral processes, and most importantly, someone who respects the citizens of this republic, be they rich or poor," said Estrada.

Estrada, who was ousted from power by President Arroyo, said the incumbent administration lacks an understanding of the needs and lacks sincerity and compassion for the poor.