Arroyo regime vows to crush protests

[dArKeR]

AP , MANILA
Sunday, May 16, 2004,Page 5

The Philippine government yesterday warned President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's rivals that attempts to use a "people power" revolt to try to grab power would be met with "the full force of the law."

Final official results from Monday's election will take weeks, and a "quick count" by an officially sanctioned election watchdog group won't be ready for several days.

Arroyo was leading action film star Fernando Poe Jr. in the quick count by a little more than 2 percentage points as of midday yesterday. An independent exit poll by a credible agency has predicted she will win by 9 percentage points.

The president has invited her opponents to join in a government of national unity and reconciliation, but Poe has said he believes he won the election and his party threatened massive street protests to force Arroyo from power if necessary.

Poe's camp has alleged widespread election irregularities, and he has urged his backers to "remain firm in our belief in the truth that victory is ours."

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/16/2003155694

[Lori Price CLG]

1. It's a mirror situation to the US + we need to take it to the streets, too

...if Dictator Bush steals this election, too.

Oh, btw: Hi, (DU's) agent Mike!! :hi: You must be a busy little maggot!!

Cheers,
Lori Price
CLG - be sure to spell it right, Mike!!

[struggle4progress]

2. One thing's for sure: we damn well better be ready ...

for more threats that Republicans will riot, of the sort we all remember from November 2000, and we better be prepared to counter the next wave of Republican threats in November 2004.

[Zynx]

3. I wouldn't trust Philippine election results either.

They don't exactly have a strong tradition of democracy.

[dArKeR]

4. Anyone who's visited the PI could vouch for that!

All except CNN Whores like Mike Chinoy.

[dArKeR]

5. Cries of foul as Arroyo's lead grows

REUTERS , MANILA
ADS1 Tuesday, May 18, 2004,Page 5

Philippines President Gloria Maca-pagal Arroyo leaped to a formidable lead in an unofficial count of last week's Philippine elections, but allegations of cheating are keeping the temperature high and portending six years of political division.

Arroyo looked closer to sealing a fresh term yesterday as she pulled ahead of her film star rival, Fernando Poe, by 14 percentage points with nearly one-third of the ballots counted by an independent watchdog.

Poe's camp, which has joined Arroyo's three other challengers in accusing her administration of widespread fraud, was due to give details of its allegations to the media later in the day.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/18/2003155987