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Arroyo to hold first news conference in two-month crisis
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, facing impeachment over vote-rigging allegations, was set to hold her first news conference Wednesday since the worst crisis of her presidency erupted two months ago. The impeachment complaint, filed by opposition lawmakers Monday, alleges she "cheated and lied" to obtain and hold power. Arroyo has denied manipulating the closely fought May 2004 poll by discussing vote-counting with an election official before she was declared the winner. She has said she's ready to face an impeachment trial to clear her name.
In her state of the nation address Monday, Arroyo ignored the impeachment complaint and called for an overhaul of the country's democratic institutions to shift from the current U.S.-style presidential system to a parliamentary government. Such a move would help end the Philippines' massive "people power" street protests that may be turning into a tool for destabilizing governments. In a parliamentary system, lawmakers can vote out a sitting government without the often lengthy hearings necessary to impeach a president. Arroyo gave no indication she would be willing to call early elections. Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo, whose approval ratings have plunged to all-time lows, was set to embark soon on a tour of provinces to try to generate support for the government reform plan. The 58-year-old U.S.-educated economist has shunned media interviews in the last two months and used taped television or radio broadcasts to get her message across.
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