Impeachment charges against Arroyo dropped
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-07 09:23

"There was no closure on the issues raised against the president and the economy would suffer most," Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said as both the stock market and the peso fell. "The public wanted the rule of law observed. They wanted a believable process. But this was denied them.

"So what can we expect from a disgruntled public?"

The 236-seat House of Representatives voted 158-51, with six legislators abstaining and 21 absent, to uphold the House justice committee's decision last week to reject the complaints alleging Arroyo rigged the election, was involved in corruption and condoned human rights violations.

Riot police officers block surging protesters who tried to march towards the Philippine Congress at suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005 to call for the ouster of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo while legislators debate the impeachment complaints against her. [AP]

The vote appeared to contradict opposition claims it was only a few votes short of the 79 needed to send the case directly to the Senate for trial.

The nationally televised session dragged on for about 23 hours — one of the longest ever — through intense debate and impassioned pleas from opposition lawmakers.

For the vote, each lawmaker had three minutes to speak, and they spiced fiery rhetoric with quotes from the Bible, Shakespeare, Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels and Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"I will never sell my soul to the devil," said Rep. Robert "Ace" Barbers, alluding to allegations — subsequently denied — that Arroyo's camp offered money and government posts to legislators for their votes.

Afterward, anti-Arroyo lawmakers stood, shook hands and embraced each other, one wiping away tears.

"They did everything to hide the truth, to kill the impeachment charges," opposition Sen. Sergio Osmena said. "But they cannot hide the truth forever."

The vote-rigging accusations emerged in June, based on illegal wiretaps in which Arroyo purportedly discussed with an elections commissioner how to ensure a million-vote victory in the closely fought election. Arroyo apologized for a "lapse in judgment" by talking with an elections official before the poll results were announced, but she said she did not influence the count.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presides over a national security council meeting with her cabinet in Manila's Malacanang presidential palace August 16, 2005. [Reuters/file]

Arroyo's opponents say the impeachment process was the last legal avenue to press her to answer the charges.

Even moderate lawmakers warned that suppressing the complaints could spark another "people power" uprising — or inspire the ever-restive military to intervene.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye slammed such warnings.

"For as long as the congressional process is free, fair and transparent, people are expected to abide by the results," he said. "To threaten our people with doomsday scenarios is an insult to our people and their political maturity."

Manila police chief Vidal Querol said his 16,000-member force was put on full alert indefinitely late Sunday. Anti-Arroyo protesters clashed with riot police last week, injuring 26 people.

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