[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...

• Arroyo impeachment hearings on verge of collapse
• Arroyo denies witness claim of bribery, threatens lawsuit
• Opposition lawmakers file impeachment complaint against Arroyo
• At least 50 Filipino lawmakers support Arroyo impeachment
• Opposition announces plans for criminal charges ahead of impeachment for Arroyo
• Philippines president "welcomes" impeachment motion to clear vote fraud