Arroyo to form commission to probe vote charges against her

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday ordered the creation of a "truth commission" to look into the election fraud and corruption allegations against her.

Arroyo is facing crisis of her presidency with the opposition, powerful business groups and several influential public figures demanding she quit over allegations she cheated here way back into office in last year's election.

A truth commission could be a way out of the weeks-old crisis.

In a letter to the powerful Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Arroyo said she was trying to "repay" Filipino people who had lost trust in her and the political system.

"On the matter of moral accountability and the need to restore trust, I have initiated the creation of a commission or similar body to look into the truth behind the issues recently raised against me," she said in the statement read by her spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

While refusing to support opposition calling for her resignation, the CBCP has asked for the creation of a truth commission to investigate charges against Arroyo in the 2004 election.

Arroyo again rejected the calls by the opposition for her resignation because she said such an act would lead to endless political turmoil in the Philippines.

Her spokesman Bunye said the composition of the truth commission was yet to be finalized and would be announced before the president's state of the nation address on July 25.

Source: Xinhua