Protesters in Manila ask Arroyo to resign

[struggle4progress]

Web posted at: 6/25/2005 1:46:46

MANILA: About 5,000 protesters chanting “fake president” marched in central Manila yesterday to demand Philippine leader Gloria Macapagal Arroyo quit over allegations of wrong-doing that have rattled financial markets.

“Enough of corruption, GMA step down,” read one banner, referring to Arroyo by her initials. <snip>

Protesters in the capital carried cardboard caricatures of Arroyo talking on a mobile phone — a reference to recordings of a telephone conversation the opposition says was between her and a senior election official during the May 2004 polls. Arroyo has declined to say whether she had the conversation in which she appears to ask the official to raise her vote count. <snip>

The president is also under fire over accusations members of her family took payoffs from illegal gambling. A Senate inquiry into those allegations resumed yesterday. <snip>

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Philippines+%26+South+Asia&month=June2005&file=World_News2005062514558.xml


Arroyo received gambling payoffs, says Archbishop Cruz

MANILA — A massive anti-government protest to demand the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday failed to take off as police blocked key sections of the metropolis.

But the embattled President took another blow when an outspoken Roman Catholic archbishop said she had received support for her election campaign from illegal gambling operators, the first time she has been linked directly to such payoffs.

Ms Arroyo mainly received support "in kind," plus some cash as early as 1998, when she ran for vice-president, and in last year's election that opposition groups claim was rigged, Archbishop Cruz (picture) told reporters. <snip>

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/58116.asp