Manila's Arroyo boosted by opposition defectionWed Aug 24, 2005 9:34 AM BST
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.
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.
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