Kilusang Mayo Uno spokesman Presto Suyat said that they felt triumphant although they were only able to set foot on Mendiola for a mere 15 minutes.

The MPD Tactical Operations Center (TOC) initially reported that a crowd of around 300 gathered at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City before marching towards Manila.

Members of the protesting groups, however, claimed that at the onset of the rally, their ranks swelled to well over 1,000 upon reaching Mabuhay Rotunda in QC.

At this point, however, anti-riot policemen and a considerable number of policemen from the MPD Station 4, headed by Supt. Bernardo Diaz, were on hand to stall the advance of the protesters.

Adopting a change in tactics, the militants broke into small groups when their intentions to go forward in full force proved futile.

The small groups were able to successfully maneuver towards the Sampaloc area, with some of them using a street near the United Medical Doctors Center and a side street to the right of the Mabuhay Rotunda as alternate routes towards their goal.

Probably "outsmarting" the policemen for the moment, militants used the confusion to gain ground and were able to successfully reach Mendiola at 1:45 p.m.

Small scuffles between militants and policemen erupted along C.M. Recto Ave. and Morayta, as the rest of the rallyists were still making their way towards Mendiola.

By this time, however, policemen had already adjusted and deployed a considerable number of antiriot policemen to guard the Malacañang Complex.

This particular group of anti-riot policemen was successful in pushing the rallyists back towards C. M. Recto Ave. and Morayta, who regrouped along España as they were bombarded by water cannon from a firetruck.

In front of UST, organizers of the rally announced at around 3 p.m. that they will conduct an organized dispersal.

Despite the turn of events, Suyat said they consider the day as a "success" for them.

"This has been the first time that we were able to reach Mendiola, though it was short-lived," Suyat said.

Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said they were able to express their sentiments of disgust for the "railroading" of the Charter change through a people’s initiative and their persistent demand for President Arroyo’s immediate ouster.

MPD Station 4 commander, Supt. Bernard Diaz, said that despite their claims, the rallyists violated the law, as they did not have a permit for their protest action.

Diaz said that at around 2 p.m., they were forced to use the necessary force to disperse an "illegal assembly."

It can be remembered that the method of using water cannons to disperse protesters became controversial sometime last October after leaders of the opposition were doused with water during a supposed religious march towards San Beda College.

In yesterday’s rally, organizers said scores were hurt after the police began charging the demonstrators using truncheons, shields, and water cannons. The dispersal began after the opening hymn to the program and as Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. was urging the police not to disperse the peaceful demonstration. Bayan chairwoman Carol Araullo was on stage when the police took action.

An 18-year-old male student suffered head wounds after anti-riot policemen hit him with truncheons. He was swiftly treated by two members of a paramedic team belonging to the Health Alliance for Democracy.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo immediately condemned the dispersal.

Gloria Resign  Movement pushes  bid nationwide

By JUDE GALFORD III

The Gloria Resign Movement launched by senators the other day will not fizzle out even in the face of insurmountable odds, opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday in an attempt to silence pro-administration solons that have belittled the nationwide "GMA-out" drive.

Pimentel noted that a recent editorial that appeared at the New York Times urging United States President George W. Bush to be circumspect with regard to its relationship with the Philippines is a "wake-up call to Mrs. Arroyo."

He said the international consternation on how President Arroyo runs the country simply validates the initiatives and goals set forth by the GMA Resign Movement.

"Three areas about which the NY Times editorial is concerned with which I think is also universal values, in a way, should be appreciated by democratic people all over the world," he said, referring to the article’s contention that the country is run by capitalist-cronies or by a president whose mandate is suspect and notorious in curtailing press freedom.

Pimentel said the GMA Resign Movement will be on a provincial sortie beginning next week targetting major provinces and cities to spread the message of calls for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.

"This is going to be a speaking engagement," he told reporters in a press briefing.

But while most senators are amenable to the objectives of the movement, some legislators are unconvinced by its goals and the ways by which to achieve its ends.

Independent Senator Edgardo Angara said he will not join in any Senate-initiated moves to force Mrs. Arroyo to step down from power lest he be accused of being anti-change. Angara has repeatedly argued that the best mode of de-commissioning the Palace is through Charter change in the form of a Constituent Assembly.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan, who was among the first senators to publicly demand Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation in July last year, has likewised begged off from joining the movement. Pangilinan explained that Mrs. Arroyo should voluntarily resign from office and that it cannot be forced upon her even by the political opposition.