MANILA, Philippines--Business leaders on Friday joined thousands in a protest against moves to amend the Constitution despite the presence of politicians in the same rally.

Alberto A. Lim, executive director of the Makati Business Club, said the group was less involved in Friday?s rally compared to the most recent one held in the heart of the country's financial district last Feb. 29.

"Some people say this (protest) is unnecessary but we have to let those in Congress who are pushing for Charter change know that there is a broad front against Cha-cha," Lim said in an interview.

"You know, 'accidents' can still happen just like when (Ferdinand) Marcos was president," said Lim. "They can make insertions or count raised hands when the actual question was 'Who wants to have lunch?'"

Lim had been active in the anti-Marcos business group called Manindigan during the last years of the dictatorship.

Politicians were not invited to a similar inter-faith gathering held last February at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, which called for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and which the MBC partially funded.

Even then, former president Joseph Estrada was at that rally along with his predecessors Fidel V. Ramos and Corazon Aquino.

Aquino accompanied Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr., the star witness in the Senate investigation into the $329-million National Broadband Network contract, which administration officials were barred by Malacañang from attending.

"Estrada's presence back then turned off contingents from the Catholic Church and they walked out," Lim recalled.

On Friday, sports utility vehicles bearing the number 8 (issued to congressmen) and regular government license plates lined portions of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.

"Aside from the politicians, which is a complete turnoff to other groups, this rally is also dominated by left-wing forces," Lim said. "The MBC played it low this time."

He said that while these reasons pushed the MBC to the brink of its "comfort zone" as far as joining or supporting rallies was concerned, segregation of groups helped mitigate the businessmen's misgivings.

On the left side of the stage that was set up in front of the Bank of the Philippine Islands building, MBC members wearing yellow T-shirts sat on chairs that were designated and labeled as the area for business and civil society groups.

Also among the group clad in yellow shirts (the Philippine Daily Inquirer counted at least 24) were representatives from the Management Association of the Philippines--including its incoming president, Joey A. Bermudez--and a group going by the name Former Senior Government Officials.

On the right side of the stage gathered the politicians, among them Senators Manuel Roxas II, Rodolfo Biazon and Jinggoy Estrada.

When asked to what extent and for how long the MBC would support or join rallies, Lim said the group would look at it on a case to case basis.

"We don't know yet what the next activities will be," he said. "We'll play it by ear."

In separate interviews, leaders of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Philippine Industries said they were not taking part in rallies although they were against Cha-cha.

"We are indeed looking for changes in the Constitution in terms of both economic provisions and the form of government, but this is not the time for amendments," said Donald G. Dee, PCCI chair emeritus.

"We should focus on the current global financial crisis and how to mitigate its impact on our economy," Dee said.

FPI president Jesus L. Arranza said he saw no need for Cha-Cha, especially in the manner that proponents wanted it to be done.