Philippines lawmakers reject second presidential impeachment bid News
Philippines lawmakers reject second presidential impeachment bid

[JURIST] Members of the Philippines House of Representatives [official website] on Thursday voted 173-32 [press release] to uphold a decision [JURIST report] last week by the House Committee on Justice [official website], defeating impeachment proceedings against Philippines President Gloria Macapagal [official website; BBC profile] and preventing a trial in the Senate. Macapagal has been accused of vote rigging, bribery, graft, corruption, human rights abuses and violations of the Philippines Constitution [text].

Opposition leaders cautioned that dismissing the impeachment case would continue the nation's political impasse. Macapagal has four years remaining in her six-year presidency. Since her election in 2004, she has overcome a previous impeachment campaign last September, allegations that she rigged the presidential campaign, death threats, and a coup plot [JURIST reports]. AP has more. The Manila Times has local coverage.

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