At least 50 Filipino lawmakers support Arroyo impeachment News
At least 50 Filipino lawmakers support Arroyo impeachment

[JURIST] Opposition lawmakers said Thursday that they have the support of over 50 Filipino lawmakers for the expected impeachment complaint [JURIST report] against current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website]. The impeachment complaint, which is likely to be formally filed Monday, must contain at least 79 votes from the 236-member House in order to proceed to a Senate hearing. Oppositional lawmakers say that Arroyo, who is suspected of vote rigging [JURIST report] in the past election and whose family has alleged ties to illegal gambling businesses, will face five impeachable charges including betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption. Xinhua has more; for local coverage, the Philippine Daily Inquirer 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.