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| Southeast Asia |
| Support for Philippine President Crumbles |
| 2005-07-08 |
| EFL:MANILA, Philippines -- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency was in tatters Friday, her base of support eroding by the hour, as former backers abandoned the Philippine leader and added to calls for her resignation over an election scandal. But in a radio address as thousands of people protested against her in Manila's financial district, Arroyo defiantly vowed not to quit, criticized those urging her to resign _ including former President Corazon Aquino, a close ally _ and said she was forging ahead by naming a new Cabinet. Despite her effort to present a business-as-usual approach, Arroyo appeared to be barely holding on, with prospects rapidly fading for anything other than a peaceful handover of power to Vice President Noli de Castro, who leftist groups said must show that he's not tainted, too. A third of her Cabinet quit Friday, telling a news conference that Arroyo has been crippled by allegations that she rigged last year's presidential race and has lost the ability to lead. She has denied that she rigged the elections. The Liberal Party, a key part of the ruling coalition backing Arroyo, also called for her resignation and said it would support an impeachment process if she won't yield power. Two major business groups, the Makati Business Club and the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, also jumped on the bandwagon, as did a coalition of nongovernment groups that backed her ascension to the presidency during the 2001 "people power" revolt that ousted predecessor Joseph Estrada. Even Aquino, one of Arroyo's closest supporters and the beneficiary of the first "people power" uprising that forced out dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, said it was time to go because the country can't afford another uprising. For the time being, the influential Roman Catholic Church and the powerful military _ also players in the 2001 revolt _ were on the sidelines, but bishops were to meet through the weekend, and the military hardly gave a ringing endorsement, only saying it would resist any moves outside the rule of law. "Commanders should act swiftly against any behavior that challenges or breaks away from the chain of command," military chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu said in a statement. "This is not the time for weakness." The capital's police force went on full alert and additional contingents were securing the presidential palace. |
| Posted by:Steve |