Church urges Philippine counter-protest

Philippine Armed Forces have been put on alert as tensions rise in the capital Manila

In this story: Troops on alert Estrada supporters pull out Coup rumors denied RELATED STORIES

MANILA, Philippines -- The powerful head of the Philippine Roman Catholic church urged people into the streets early Monday to defend democracy and the president, but a possible showdown with thousands of protesters supporting ousted president Joseph Estrada may have been averted.

Troops were put on alert after the call by Cardinal Jaime Sin.

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Wire service Reuters reports that Estrada supporters called off their protests about an hour after the call by Cardinal Sin, however, some Manila news sources were reporting that some Estrada supporters were heading for the Presidential Palace.

Rumors of a coup attempt or other disruptions have swept the capital. They include the prospect of the crowd trying to free Estrada, who is undergoing medical tests in preparation for being moved from a cell at national police headquarters in the capital to a more remote detention facility.

The country's military chief of staff held a 2 a.m. Monday Manila time (1800 GMT, 1400 US EDT, Sunday) news conference to deny reports that officers were defecting to Estrada's camp and repeat support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, facing her first crisis.

"I'd like to assure the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines stands united 100 percent, steadfast behind commander-in-chief ... Arroyo, and claims to the contrary are plain and simple falsehood and designed to create disorder and sow confusion," said chief of staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.

Troops on alert

Five tanks sat behind a building at the hospital where Estrada has been temporarily freed from jail to undergo medical tests, and armored personnel carriers were deployed at the presidential palace, part of a special 2,000-person task force mobilized to stop anti-government unrest.

"We are on alert," Villanueva said.

Hundreds of people immediately responded to Sin's midnight request to gather near the presidential palace as the pro-Estrada rallies moved into a fifth day. Sin, one of Estrada's biggest critics, was among the leaders of mass protests that forced the former action film star to leave the presidential palace on Jan. 20 over corruption allegations.

Estrada supporters meanwhile are reported to have called off a threatened march to the presidential palace on Monday, possibly to avoid a confrontation with troops and Arroyo supporters.

Estrada supporters pull out

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo heads a devoutly Catholic nation

Reuters reports the bulk of Estrada's supporters -- estimated by police at one point to number between 100,000 and 300,000 -- began pulling out of the rally site at about 3 a.m. Towards daybreak, the crowd had shrunk to about 20,000, police said.

"Let us a wait for a little more time. We cannot yet march," Estrada's son, businessman J.V. Ejercito, told the restive crowd before it began to disperse.

"It looks like we're over the hump ... It looks like it's been defused," presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told Reuters.

The government has allowed the pro-Estrada rallies to continue at the shrine to the "people power" revolution that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 as long as they remain peaceful. Tens of thousands of people have attended nightly.

"There are limits to these liberties. If the safety of individuals are threatened then the exercise of those liberties might have to be restrained," Interior Secretary Jose Lina said.

Cardinal Sin said in his radio and television address that: "As Catholics, we must fully support, defend and stand behind the present government and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."

"Keep watch, stay alert. It is immoral to grab power. It is immoral to support those plotting against duly constituted authorities."

Estrada and his son, Jinggoy, were jailed Wednesday for the capital offense of plunder -- defined as theft from the state of more than $1 million.

Coup rumors denied

The ousted president issued a statement that was read to the protesters, urging the rallies to continue.

"Wherever they may jail me, they will never be able to imprison the voices of our people against an oppressive regime which gained power not through the majesty of elections," Estrada said.

Top military and police officials have pledged their support for Arroyo daily. They backed the protests that forced Estrada from power in January and installed Arroyo.

Ray Roquero, a provincial town mayor who visited Estrada Sunday, said the former president was entertaining guests and was buoyed by the rallies.

The government plans to move Estrada to a more remote detention facility, hoping it will quell the protests as the Philippines prepares for congressional and local elections on May 14 that many see as a referendum on Arroyo.

Estrada's lawyers are pushing for house arrest or bail, neither of which is normally allowed on plunder charges.

The threat by Estrada's supporters to march on the palace about 15 km (nine miles) away coincided with rumors that opposition politicians and some military officers were hatching a plot to try to overthrow Arroyo and install a civilian-military junta in her place.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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