Cardinal Sin, 'People Power' icon, dies

Philippine Cardinal Jaime Sin, a driving force behind popular revolts that unseated two Presidents, died yesterday after a long illness, leaving a mixed legacy in a country that remains hobbled by divisive politics.

Cardinal Sin, once called "the divine commander in chief" by former President Fidel Ramos, had been in intensive care for two days with an infection related to a long-standing kidney problem.

"History will mark this day of sadness when a great liberator of the Filipino people and a champion of God passed away," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement.

"Cardinal Sin leaves a legacy of freedom and justice forged in deep personal courage."

The main Roman Catholic radio station played hymns to mourn Cardinal Sin, 76, who retired as archbishop of Manila in 2003.

His successor, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, later presided over a wake at Manila Cathedral, swinging incense over Cardinal Sin's body and leading a packed congregation that included Corazon Aquino, who was installed as President after the famous 1986 uprising.

Bishops, cardinals, and political leaders in Asia's largest Catholic country filed past Cardinal Sin's flower-adorned body.

"I'm feeling very lonely without the cardinal. He was such a good leader to the Filipino people," said Julieto Lopez, who said he had been selling religious items outside the cathedral for 20 years.

An ethnic Chinese, Cardinal Sin shot to global prominence in 1986 when he rallied a million people to form human barricades on Manila's main highway and to protect a puny band of 300 army rebels against advancing tanks loyal to dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

His radio broadcasts in support of the mutineers ignited the now legendary "People Power" revolt that drove Marcos into exile and swept political novice Corazon Aquino to the presidency.

Ms Arroyo rose to the presidency in the second "People Power" mass protests that ousted former movie star Joseph Estrada in 2001. She now faces allegations of electoral fraud that the government says are part of a plot to unseat her.

Mr Marcos's widow Imelda, who returned to the Philippines after her husband's death in 1989, attended mass and said the rosary prayer for Cardinal Sin after hearing of his death, her spokesman said.

"With the death of Cardinal Sin, let us pray that all Filipinos will at last be united in spirit," she was quoted as saying.

At his retirement ceremony, Cardinal Sin said his duty had been to "put Christ in politics".

"Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of our nation," he said.

Some say Cardinal Sin's legacy is mixed. The 2001 uprising has been portrayed by some as an unconstitutional power grab by the Church and political elite angry at Estrada's sweeping election win on a pro-poor agenda.

Analysts say the uprisings have left the Philippines with an unstable system in which politicians are quick to use the threat of "People Power" as a weapon against the incumbent president.

"His record, for me, would always be mixed," said Nelson Navarro, an expert on Church affairs.

"He was correct in taking the Church to tackle the issues of the day. But he got enamoured with power and became a power broker."

Cardinal Sin's departure from the office he had held for 27 years marked the end of an unprecedented period of political activism by the Church, although it remains a potent force and a key backer of Arroyo.

Ordained in 1954, Cardinal Sin became the youngest member of the Vatican's College of Cardinals when he was made a prince of the church at the age of 47.