By about 9 a.m., the University Belt in Sampaloc, Manila which is just a stone's throw away from Malacañang, was already teeming with students for the march to the Liwasang Bonifacio where a rally was held in the afternoon.
In a joint statement, the student groups expressed their "vehement outrage and resentment against a despotic and vindictive leader who has disregarded the interest of the broad masses particularly the youth in the name of his populist rhetoric of being for the poor."
UP professor Carol Almeda, president of the militant Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said the people now want Mr. Estrada to resign. "This is the expression of the people's will to pressure the illegal occupant of Malacañang to step down. He is always saying that he was elected by the people. We the people now revoke that mandate," she said.
"This is a show of our conviction. The people do not trust the President anymore. We will continue attending these rallies until we pressure him to resign," said 29-year-old protester Jonathan Suarez. Other groups that participated in the strike were Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, the League of Filipino students, Bayan Muna, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, GABRIELA, the Rise All Government Employees Against Estrada (RAGE), and the Code RED (Resign Erap Dali).
An estimated 50,000 people gathered at the Liwasang Bonifacio, while some 10,000 others joined the mass action in Makati.
Former Mandaluyong City mayor Benjamin Abalos and Pasig City Vice Mayor Lorna Bernardo led some 1,000 protesters in a march toward Makati. At least 30 factories in Cebu City stopped operations as their workers joined the one-day strike. About 70 percent of public transport in the cities of General Santos, Davao and Cotabato in Mindanao was paralyzed.
In Butuan City, a boisterous crowd of some 10,000 people consisting of religious workers, farmers, fishermen, students, urban and rural poor, women, labor and academe held a rally at the city square. Placard-bearing marchers chanting "Erap babaero, lasengero, resign na" caused monstrous traffic jams. All Catholic schools in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces suspended classes to allow their students and faculty to join the protest action. Other areas hit by the strike were the cities of Tacloban, Zamboanga, Angeles, Santiago, Tarlac, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, and the province of Bulacan.
— Jose Rodel Clapano, Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude, Marichu Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo, Nestor Etolle, Non Alquitran, Rey Arquiza, Sandy Araneta, Pia Lee-Brago, Mathew Estabillo, Pete Laude, Marvin Sy, Allen Estabillo, Rene Alviar, Charlie Lagasca, Ben Serrano, Teddy Molina, Cet Dematera, Antonieta Lopez, Leo Solinap, Edith Regalado, Celso Amo, Benjie Villa, Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Philip Ting, Roel Pareño, Lito Salatan, Jess Mananghaya, Freeman News Service, other wire services
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