Arroyo denies witness claim of bribery, threatens lawsuit News
Arroyo denies witness claim of bribery, threatens lawsuit

[JURIST] The Philippines government on Tuesday denied a witness's accusation that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [Wikipedia profile] bribed election officials and threatened a lawsuit. Arroyo says people are being paid to testify against her as part of impeachment proceedings [JURIST report]. Michael Angelo Zuce, a former aide, says Arroyo paid officials [Scotsman report] during a meeting in January 2004. Zuce's former boss however denied the accusation and says that Zuce is suffering from financial troubles [ABS-CBN report] and needs money [ABS-CBN report]. Xinhua has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.