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Three years after the second popular revolt in EDSA catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power, a Catholic bishop Tuesday accused politicians of abusing and betraying people power, and called on Filipinos to save the nation from them.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, one of those who called on the Filipino faithful to flock to EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) in 2001, said he had given up on the country's "dishonest and corrupt politicians."

"Politicians have abused and betrayed people power," Villegas said in his 20-minute homily during the noon Mass to commemorate EDSA II at the Our Lady of Peace Shrine on EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

Jan. 16 marked the day people started going to the EDSA Shrine to protest the Senate impeachment court's decision to block the opening of an envelope containing evidence against then President Joseph Estrada. The protests led to the ouster of Estrada.

Villegas said politicians were giving a bad meaning to politics. "But let us not allow them to destroy our nation."

"The politics of convenience and compromise that we see around us cannot save the nation," the bishop told an audience of some 500 people, including former senator Raul Roco, who is running for president, and former Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez, who is seeking a Senate seat.

Pastor "Boy" Saycon, June Keithley and a few other members of civil society were also around during the Mass. The other players in EDSA II -- the militant groups such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) -- were blocked in front of Camp Crame national police headquarters and prevented from proceeding to the EDSA Shrine. Former President Corazon Aquino later arrived after Villegas had already given his homily.

But Ms Macapagal, who visited the Shrine at 6 in the morning, used the anniversary to trumpet the achievements of her administration in what resembled another campaign speech for the May 10 presidential elections. She is seeking her first six-year term.

"EDSA II happened because we were all searching for change," the President said. "During my brief stint as President, I used my experience and friendship with other countries to bring investments and create three million jobs -- instead of one million only that were created before I became president."

Villegas, spokesperson of the outspoken former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, also said that he saw no hope in the coming elections.

"The hope and future of our nation is not in leaders who are elected by the ballot but in ordinary, simple Filipinos who live out their heroism every day of the year," he said.

Roco agreed with Villegas' views, saying "the homily is a good description of many politicians who will do anything without basis in principle or honor, and just for sheer expediency."

"So it's true. But we have a duty to create and nurture hope because if we don't, nobody else will care for the country," he added.

Asked if he believed that the spirit of EDSA remained alive, Roco said: "Yes, it's in the people, not in the leaders."

Roco lamented that members of the militant group Bayan Muna were barred from staging rallies at the shrine, saying: "The people who brought success to EDSA II are now being prevented from coming. Even if they came, they would not have seen the President."

Roco said it was unfortunate that the President was not around to hear Villegas' message, which he described as "very appropriate."

"She came early as though afraid of the people who put her in position. She came at 6 a.m. afraid to face the people who put her in power. It's a pitiful description of the state of political leadership in the Philippines," he said.

The President's office had said Ms Macapagal commemorated the revolt early in the morning to allow her to devote the rest of the day to a visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

But Villegas said more and more Filipinos were seeking to go abroad and stay there, while those who remained in the country were scared of either kidnapping or starvation.

"This is only the third anniversary of EDSA Dos. What has happened to us?" asked Villegas.

"I am confused. I am disillusioned. I am afraid of what awaits the country. I must confess that I am at the brink of giving up. I am on the edge of despair," he said.

Outside the Shrine, Teddy Casiño, Bayan secretary general, said, "The spirit of EDSA is gone."

Casiño made the statement after some 250 people led by Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo were blocked by around 500 anti-riot police in front of Camp Crame and prevented from proceeding to the EDSA Shrine.

The police also stopped about 200 Methodists, Aglipayans, members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, priests and nuns in front of the Saisaki and Barrio Fiesta restaurants on EDSA.

"We are very angry. We are disappointed. GMA has betrayed the spirit of EDSA and she has lied to us," said Father Allan Arcebuche, spokesperson of the Promotion of Church People's Response.

Arcebuche said the police treated them as if they were troublemakers, not members of the religious community.

He said the marchers merely wanted to join the traditional Mass at the Shrine, or at least get near it.

Arcebuche said his group could not understand why even religious groups were barred from the Shrine, which is considered Church property. "We didn't come to make trouble. Those inside the EDSA Shrine know that," he said.

Calling Ms Macapagal a "traitor" to the principles of EDSA II, militant groups that helped install her to power demanded her "disqualification."

"Three years of treachery is enough," Casiño told the crowd that included members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Gabriela.

Casiño said much was expected of Ms Macapagal and her team considering that they were the main beneficiaries of EDSA II. "They have the obligation to deliver on the promises of EDSA."

Carmen Deunida, Kadamay president, described Ms Macapagal as a "political opportunist," citing her decision to change her mind on a previous announcement that she would no longer seek the presidency if only to unite the country.

The militant groups lashed out at the administration's "K-4" senatorial ticket that includes reelectionist Senator John Osmeña and ex-senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, two of the most vocal supporters of Estrada at the height of his impeachment trial.

At the EDSA Shrine, Saycon said there was a feeling of resignation among the people that EDSA II had failed to bring about principled leadership in the country. "But let us not complain. Instead, we must move forward," he said.

Aquino, for her part, urged Filipinos to stop complaining about the government's failures and make their own contributions.

"I pray that we Filipinos become one," the former President said. Aquino was catapulted to power in the first EDSA People Power uprising in February 1986.