Opposition scrambles to overturn Arroyo impeachment dismissal News
Opposition scrambles to overturn Arroyo impeachment dismissal

[JURIST] After legislators quashed the impeachment [JURIST report] of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website, Wikipedia backgrounder], opposition lawmakers said Thursday that they are attempting to collect enough votes to continue the impeachment process. In proceedings boycotted by the opposition, Arroyo's congressional allies in the House Committee on Justice [official website] voted Wednesday to dismiss the three impeachment complaints, which included rigging last year's elections and betraying the public's trust. If the opposition can muster 79 lawmakers, or one-third of the House, to vote against the committee's decision, then the decision must be overturned. After one House legislator withdrew his support of the opposition Thursday, they appeared to be seven votes short of the 79 needed. AP has more. The Manila Times has local coverage.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase