Aquino Asks Unity Against Mutineers : Philippines: Cheering crowd of 100,000 turns out at rally to support her beleaguered regime.

President Corazon Aquino urged Filipinos at a rally today to unite against those who would “destroy our democracy” as a crowd of 100,000 turned out to support her beleaguered regime.

Aquino said she will not relinquish her office to Vice President Salvador Laurel, who was elected on her ticket but has become a political rival. He has suggested that they both resign and call new elections.

Aquino also pledged to investigate whether opposition Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was involved in the military coup attempt that began Dec. 1.

“He cannot wait to be president,” Aquino said of Laurel. “I will never give up this position to him.”

The president spoke to a rally on the site where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos filled the streets in 1986 so tanks could not pass.

Today’s crowd was smaller than those in 1986, but appeared to be among the largest since Aquino gained power. Government offices encouraged employees to attend, and participants were brought by bus from as far away as Angeles, 50 miles to the north.

Estimates of the crowd varied widely. Government television said 1 million people attended, but reporters put the number at more than 100,000.

Aquino did not mention complaints by the rebels and other critics that she has not delivered on promises of social justice and reform.

She delivered most of the speech in Tagalog, the main Philippine language, using an earthy accent and phrases associated with uneducated Filipinos. Her style recalled the simplicity and frankness that won millions of Filipinos to her cause in 1986.

Speaking briefly in English, Aquino said: “I want all of us to unite and to give support to the democratic systems of government and to go after these people who want to destroy our democracy, who want to destroy our economy, who want to destroy the Filipino people.”

The crowd cheered wildly and chanted “Cory! Cory! Cory!” when she mentioned Laurel and Enrile, whom she fired as defense minister in November, 1986, after a coup by his followers failed.