By DPA
Manila : Hundreds of women activists Saturday marked the International Women’s Day in the Philippine capital demanding the resignation of scandal-tainted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The activists marched through the main streets denouncing the alleged massive corruption perpetrated by Arroyo, her family and allies.
Chanting “Gloria resign”, the women carried a giant cardboard replica of a handcuff which they said should remind Arroyo that she has to answer for all her crime against the people.
Meanwhile, dozens of pro-Arroyo women’s groups, aboard minibuses and wearing white dresses, went around churches around Manila, appealing for reconciliation and an end to protests.
At least three huge anti-government protests were held throughout the country last month after a witness told a Senate inquiry that Arroyo’s husband and a key ally demanded at least $130 million in kickbacks from a scrapped government contract with a Chinese firm.
Another witness alleged that Arroyo and her husband received at least five million dollars in advance commissions from the botched $329-million-dollar national broadband deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Arroyo, her husband and allies have denied any wrongdoing. She has also rejected calls for her resignation, saying she will only step down when her term expires in 2010.