Jul 5, 5:21 PM EDT
Philippine Leader Ready to Face Trial
By PAUL ALEXANDER
Associated Press Writer
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo is ready to face an impeachment trial and confident that she
can refute the allegations of election fraud against her, her
spokesman said Tuesday.
The allegations against Arroyo, which stem from wiretapped
recordings of phone conversations between her and an election
commissioner, have set off rumors of another "people power" revolt
or a coup, either of which could destabilize the Philippines'
nascent democracy.
Arroyo has acknowledged talking to the official and apologized for
"a lapse in judgment," but denied influencing the outcome of the
polls and dismissed opposition calls to resign.
"The impeachment is uncalled for and will just be a waste of the
people's time," Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said in a
statement Tuesday. He added, however, that the trial is welcome if
it is "the only way to put a stop to the prevailing political
grandstanding and mudslinging."
On Tuesday, two key witnesses who supplied the copies of the
recordings agreed to surrender all their tapes to a House of
Representatives inquiry.
Separately, two lawyers filed impeachment complaints against
Arroyo, claiming she rigged the election. The issue can be taken up
only after Congress resumes on July 26.
House Speaker Jose de Venecia, a close Arroyo ally, said he would
endorse an impeachment complaint against the president because it
was his constitutional duty.
Arroyo's predecessor, President Joseph Estrada, faced an
impeachment trial on corruption charges in 2000-01. Pro-Estrada
senators blocked what was considered crucial evidence against him,
triggering street protests that toppled him.
The Arroyo government, which has a strong majority in the House and
a narrower margin in the Senate, appears to believe it could
prevail in an impeachment process. A trial also would buy time for
the crisis to pass and for Arroyo to shore up her
credibility.
Opposition lawmakers suspect the impeachment complaints, which they
believe to be faulty, were orchestrated by the administration to
ensure that no other impeachment motion is filed within a year, a
constitutional limitation.
"We are still wondering if President Arroyo will waive her rights
under the anti-wiretapping law and her rights to privacy for us to
proceed because any impeachment may be rendered useless if she
won't," said Rep. Francis Escudero, the House minority
leader.
