Philippines President Gloria Arroyo will possibly step down tomorrow

[Freedomfried]

I didn't think it was going anywhere, but the charges of election rigging has put the pressure on President Gloria Arroyo to resign.
Hearings and coverage of the protests have been on the tube all day here, the country is on high security.

FF
Negros Island

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-07/08/content_3193980.htm


MANILA, July 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The political turmoil in the Philippines worsened Friday as the voice of calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign mounting, one day after she asked her cabinet members to quit en masse.

While announcing their resignation, ten cabinet members led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima called on Arroyo to quit for the good of the country.

The longer Arroyo stays, the worse it will hurt the country, said the revolting cabinet ministers who virtually made up Arroyo's economic team at a press conference in Metro Manila. They wanted Arroyo to hand over her presidency to Vice President Noli de Castro in accordance with the country's Constitution.

Their call for resignation of Arroyo was echoed by former President Cory Aquino, the influential Makati Business Club chamber of industry and commerce, and the once Arroyo ally, Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Aquino, who still enjoys great prestige for her role in toppling former President Ferdinand Marcos and the legacy left behind by her late husband Senator Ninoy Aquino, said in a televised speech that Arroyo should step down for the interests ofthe nation.

Drilon announced that his Liberal Party, which was an ally party of Arroyo in the Congress, has voted for a resolution calling for Arroyo's resignation.

In an apparent defensive action, the remaining government ministers still loyal to Arroyo held a counter-press conference at the presidential palace.

The loyalists reiterated their commitment to the Constitution and the duely elected president, while dismissing perspective that the other cabinet members' quitting-of-camp would jeopardize the credibility of the presidential team.

Analysts said the reason for Arroyo to make a surprise announcement Thursday night on dismissing her cabinet was that some of its members were already maneuvering for her resignation over charges of election fraud and involvement of her family in illegal gambling business.

Rumors of a palace coup also circulated that some cabinet members have contacted de Castro and Drilon to arrange a bloodless coup to oust Arroyo.

In an interview with local television, US charge d'affaires Joseph Mussomeli said the US government is opposed to the topplingof the Arroyo administration through unconstitutional means. But he regretted the decision of Arroyo to sack her cabinet members.

The Philippine military has declared neutrality in the current crisis, but it has put its forces in Metro Manila to the highest alert level.

Government officials said Arroyo was still enjoying support of most provincial governors, some of whom have threatened to secede from Manila if the president is ousted.

Metro Manila mayors also have expressed their support for Arroyo through a manifesto submitted during a meeting with the president. Enditem

[Imagine My Surprise]

1. If only people HERE reacted to election fraud the same way

[Freedomfried]

2. Somebody wiretapped her

Talking to a Comelect offical during the last election counting.

This'll be the 3rd time I've been in this country and seen the Philippino people boot a President for misdeeds.

True Democracy

[Moderator]

3. Freedomfried

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