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Arroyo calls for new system
http://www.sina.com.cn 2005/07/26 17:23  Shanghai Daily

  Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shrugged off an impeachment complaint filed just before her state of the nation speech in Manila yesterday, not even directly mentioning the crisis as she called for an overhaul of the country's unstable democracy.

  With opposition lawmakers boycotting the annual address and 25,000 protesters outside - facing a line of riot police and troops - Arroyo said Congress should quickly come up with constitutional amendments to end the US-style presidency and switch to a parliamentary form of government.

  "Ours is a country divided," Arroyo said. She is under pressure to quit, with nearly five years left in her term, over allegations that she rigged last year's election. "One (side) is a Philippines whose economy ... is now poised for takeoff. The other ... has become a hindrance to progress.

  "The system clearly needs fundamental change," she said. "And the sooner the better."

  Changing to a parliamentary system - in which lawmakers can vote out a sitting government instead of resorting to "people power" revolts like those that have toppled two leaders since 1986 - could cut Arroyo's term short, since a successful referendum on the changes likely would be followed by fresh elections.

  But it would give her a somewhat graceful way out of the mess that has paralyzed her government, and perhaps help end the massive people power street protests that may be turning into a tool for destabilizing governments.

  Still, opponents noted that Arroyo gave no schedule for switching systems, and made no further mention of the "truth commission" that she said last week would look into the allegations against her.

  Sticking to her business-as-usual strategy in dealing with her two-month-old political crisis, Arroyo touted her administration's accomplishments in generating 4 million jobs over the past four years, fighting drugs, curtailing kidnappings and easing a bloody Muslim separatist insurgency in the south.

  The 10-count impeachment complaint, filed in the House by opposition lawmakers, claims Arroyo "cheated and lied" to obtain and hold power, and could be impeached on four grounds.

  "By so flouting justice and the rule of law, she has committed an unforgivable outrage against the Filipino people," it says.

  Arroyo's aides have moved to block the complaint on a legal technicality, and backers so far only have only half of the 79 signatures needed to send it to the Senate for trial.

  Arroyo has denied manipulating the 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, and has announced that a "truth commission" also will probe the allegations against her.

  Some 6,000 police, along with a contingent of anti-riot air force personnel, provided a security cordon around the House of Representatives building in suburban Quezon City. About 20,000 protesters demonstrated nearby, demanding Arroyo's resignation, while about 5,000 supporters of the president rallied for her. All major roads leading to the building were blocked and traffic rerouted.

  (The Associated Press)


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