Philippine impeachment unlikely to succeed
{{date|August 31, 2005}}
[[Image:Arroyo1.jpg|right|frame|President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.]]
A Philippine [[w:House of Representatives of the Philippines|congressional]] committee has voted to turn down all impeachment petitions against President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]].  The opposition to the president, on boycott, was not present.  The vote seems to have greatly undermined any chance of an impeachment of Arroyo.

Arroyo's critics say that she committed fraud during last year's presidential election.  She has also been accused of bribing lawmakers in order to stop them from supporting complaints against her.

Edmundo Reyes, a pro-impeachment congressman, revealed that only six more signatures are needed to trigger a trial in the [[w:Philippine Senate|Philippine Senate]].  One-third of the legislative body - 79 members - must consent to the president's impeachment in order for a trial to occur.  Currently, 73 lawmakers side with the opposition.

"Is there no one else?" asked an emotional Reyes.  "Is there anyone else signing this for truth?"

The opposition has threatened to organize citizen protests demanding the president's removal.  But Arroyo's Congress allies appear confident that they have destroyed the impeachment bid.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/08/31/philippines_lawmakers_quash_impeachment/
|title=Philippines lawmakers quash impeachment
|author=Associated Press
|pub=Boston Globe
|date=August 31, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/31/news/phils.php
|title=Arroyo allies cut impeachment case
|author=Carlos H. Conde
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=August 31, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=amRqicih2frw&refer=asia
|title=Philippine Panel Rejects Arroyo Impeachment Petitions
|author=
|pub=Bloomberg.com
|date=August 31, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/31/philippines.arroyo.ap/index.html
|title=Bid to impeach Arroyo quashed
|author=Associated Press
|pub=CNN
|date=August 31, 2005}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Philippines]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]]
[[Category:Impeachment]]

[[ja:フィリピン・アロヨ大統領 弾劾成立の見込み薄し]]
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
A Philippine congressional committee has voted to turn down all impeachment petitions against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  The opposition to the president, on boycott, was not present.  The vote seems to have greatly undermined any chance of an impeachment of Arroyo.

Arroyo's critics say that she committed fraud during last year's presidential election.  She has also been accused of bribing lawmakers in order to stop them from supporting complaints against her.

Edmundo Reyes, a pro-impeachment congressman, revealed that only six more signatures are needed to trigger a trial in the Philippine Senate.  One-third of the legislative body - 79 members - must consent to the president's impeachment in order for a trial to occur.  Currently, 73 lawmakers side with the opposition.

"Is there no one else?" asked an emotional Reyes.  "Is there anyone else signing this for truth?"

The opposition has threatened to organize citizen protests demanding the president's removal.  But Arroyo's Congress allies appear confident that they have destroyed the impeachment bid.
Politics and conflicts Philippines Asia Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Impeachment