President to address nation on Monday
Philippine opposition lawmakers filed an impeachment complaint Monday against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, accusing her of vote-rigging and other allegations.
The filing against Arroyo, a staunch U.S. ally, claims she "stole, cheated and lied" to obtain and hold power.
Her aides have moved to block the complaint on a legal technicality after Congress convenes following Arroyo's scheduled State of the Nation speech later Monday.
A summary of the complaint, seen by The Associated Press, accuses Arroyo of 10 major crimes including election fraud and corruption. It claims she can be impeached on at least four grounds.
"By so flouting justice and the rule of law, she has committed an unforgivable outrage against the Filipino people," it says.
Arroyo's ruling coalition holds majorities in both houses of Congress.
Arroyo has denied manipulating the May 2004 ballot by discussing vote counting with an election official before she was declared the winner.
She has said she is ready to face an impeachment trial to clear her name and has announced a "truth commission" also will probe the allegations against her.
Left-wing lawmakers have warned of a popular revolt -- like those that ousted late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada in 2001 -- if pro-Arroyo lawmakers, who have a strong majority in the House of Representatives, kill or weaken the complaint.
About 40 left-wing and opposition lawmakers broke into applause and raised clenched fists after filing the complaint in Congress. It must be endorsed by at least one-third of the 236-member House to be sent to the Senate for a trial.
Opposition Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said late Sunday the complaint was a few names shy of the required 79 signatories. He said he was confident the opposition would gather the rest in a few days.
A previous complaint was filed on June 27 that was considered much weaker, and the latest must be reconciled with that one even it receives the required signatures.
Rep. Roilo Golez said anti-impeachment efforts "could result in political extremism and severe instability."
"Those guilty of rigging the impeachment process should be held fully responsible for the highly likely political firestorm," he said, citing media reports that some lawmakers were being offered bribes to not back the impeachment bid.
The impeachment move underscores the importance of Arroyo's State of the Nation address Monday afternoon.
As Arroyo faces the cameras before a joint session of Congress, a ring of 6,000 police will be standing guard just outside, with the remainder of the capital's 15,000-strong force fanned out across Manila to contain any anti-government protests.
The controversy has paralyzed Arroyo's government as foes and former allies clamor for her to step down with nearly five years left in her term.
Arroyo has declared Monday a public holiday for the capital, saying she wants to encourage Filipinos to listen to her afternoon address.
But typically many people take advantage of a three-day weekend to escape the city, so the holiday could also help limit the size of protests.
Much of the State of the Nation address will be standard fare.
Arroyo is expected to outline measures designed to ease widespread poverty, create jobs, lure foreign investment, improve the country's negative credit outlook and fight terrorism and crime.
But the 58-year-old U.S.-trained economist is also expected to undertake further damage control with a series of actions aimed at bolstering public trust -- and her poor approval ratings.
The public may hear details of a "truth commission" that Arroyo announced will look into the allegations against her -- who will be named to the commission and what clout it will have.
The political crisis has been unpredictable so far, with Arroyo seemingly cornered and isolated -- 11 Cabinet members have abandoned her -- only to bounce back on the strength of a rally by supporters that was at least twice the size of any of the opposition protests.
She also has benefited from the lack of a strong opposition leader and the reluctance of the influential Roman Catholic church and the military to get involved.
Still, rumors of a looming coup have refused to fade in a country with a recent history of failed military-linked takeover attempts.
One alleged group of officers who were involved in a 1989 failed coup issued a statement late Thursday vowing to bring down the government to save the country "from further ruin."
