August 24, 2005

Arroyo boosted by opposition defection

By Manny Mogato

MANILA (Reuters) - The campaign to oust Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appeared to be wilting on Wednesday as her foes voiced concern that lawmakers were being bribed or pressured to withdraw support for her impeachment.

Citing family reasons, congressman Eulogio Magsaysay on Wednesday withdrew his signature from a motion to impeach Arroyo as a committee stacked with Arroyo allies resumed debate on which of three impeachment cases should be taken up.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attends a cabinet meeting in Manila's Malacanang presidential palace August 23, 2005. (REUTERS/Erik de Castr)

Opposition leaders said they feared about a dozen more may follow suit, making it virtually impossible for them to reach the 79 votes needed to impeach Arroyo over allegations of election fraud and graft.

The opposition has accused Arroyo of using the government's financial clout to shore up her support in Congress and prevent a Senate impeachment trial that could end her four-year presidency.

Magsaysay, who had previously said that he was offered bribes not to sign the impeachment case, withdrew his endorsement a day after four of Arroyo's allies joined the opposition.

"I got nothing in exchange for my decision to withdraw the impeachment endorsement," Magsaysay told reporters.

He said he had no personal knowledge that Arroyo cheated her way back into office in last year's elections, but that he may change his mind again if debates convinced him there was "probable cause" in the complaint.

"He informed us about his decision and I respect that," said Francis Escudero, an opposition leader. "It was only sad that Malacanang (the presidential palace) is putting so much pressure on lawmakers to junk the impeachment complaint".

As it stands, 46 lawmakers are supporting a motion to impeach Arroyo, leaving the opposition 33 votes short of the number needed to bypass the committee and trigger a Senate trial.

The opposing sides in the 95-member committee were given an hour and a half each to argue their positions on Wednesday.

The committee will then vote on whether amended complaints filed by the opposition should be treated separately from the original, legally weaker case endorsed by an Arroyo ally.

The opposition is arguing that all three complaints should be combined, but a majority of lawmakers are pushing for only the initial case to be considered and are expected to get their way.

News Poll

Latest Jobs from Star-Jobs

Latest from StarProperty