Arroyo submits defense against impeachment complaint

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has submitted to the House of Representatives a defense against an impeachment complaint against her, said Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye on Saturday.

"The president has submitted a defense to the impeachment complaint and this is both her right and a clear expression of her willingness to submit to the legal process," Bunye said.

He said the opponents of the president should not blame her for submitting "a transparent, legitimate defense."

The impeachment complaint is expected to be filed at the House on Monday. Some opposition lawmakers are trying to gather support at the House for an impeachment complaint against Arroyo accusing her of "cheating, lying and stealing" in last year's presidential election, which Arroyo has repeatedly denied.

Arroyo's private legal advisor, Pedro Ferrer, said the complaint was baseless as the wiretapped conversation between Arroyo and an election official, which serves as the principal basis for the complaint, could not prove Arroyo cheated in the election and was not legally acceptable.

He also questioned the jurisdiction of the Congress over vote-rigging charges, as only the Presidential Electoral Tribunal couldtackle such an election protest by a party of interest.

In order to have the complaint to be extended to the Senate foran impeachment hearing, the House needs at least 79 votes from its 236 members.

The opposition claims it has won the support of at least 50 lawmakers at the House.

Source: Xinhua