Philippine president faced with another call for her ouster

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is faced with another call for her ouster after a religious group Tuesday openly criticized her for failing to curb poverty.

But Arroyo's spokesman said the president is willing to talk with the group of Catholic bishops who have called for her ouster.

"President Arroyo has been the champion of change in our society and she is willing to listen," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

"We respect the dissenting opinion of others but we must also call upon them to join our march for unity, cooperation, and solidarity to carry the Philippines forward," he said.

The Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME), a multi-sectoral group, which counts three prelates of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) among its members, warned Arroyo of a "deluge of change" fueled by the discontent of the poor over worsening poverty.

The group also set a "national day of mourning and protest" on June 12, Independence Day of the Philippines.

The bishops' statement is the second open call to oust Arroyo in three days.

On Saturday, former defense secretary Fortunato Abat called for the establishment of a civilian-military junta to replace Arroyo.

The president has dismissed Abat's threat as a "nuisance." Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for his part is cool to the prospect of filing sedition charges against the retired general.

Latest surveys showed that discontent is rising among the Filipinos as one third of the country's population is threatened with hunger and extreme poverty.