Thousands gather for anti-Arroyo rally in Philippines

Thousands of Filipinos led by left-wing and church groups turned out for a rally in Manila today to protest against moves to rewrite the constitution, which they say is a ploy to prolong the president’s stay in power.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s tumultuous nine years in office are scheduled to end with May 2010 elections, but her allies in the House of Representatives initiated moves last week to open the constitution to amendments, leading her opponents to charge that term limits may be scrapped.