Aquino and Sin oppose Estrada

Aquino and Sin oppose Estrada

MANILA (AFP): Philippine church leaders hardened their stance against President Joseph Estrada, teaming up with former president Corazon Aquino in a campaign to block his plan to rewrite the constitution.

Aquino and the Manila archbishop, Cardinal Jaime Sin, jointly announced they would lead an Aug. 20 rally here to defend the constitution and denounce what Sin described as a "return of cronies" of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

"The reasons being cited for amending the constitution now are too shallow, flimsy and invalid. Convoking a constituent assembly now will endanger our democracy," said Sin, the senior leader of the dominant Catholic Church.