Philippine President faces corruption scandal
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is facing public demands to resign in the wake of a government inquiry into corruption.
Thousands of Filipinos took to the streets and flocked to churches Monday in a fresh wave of nationwide protests on the anniversary of a 1986 grass-roots revolt, calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.Left-wing protesters, Roman Catholic church-backed groups, students, teachers and others took part in anti-Arroyo rallies in 15 cities.
They were galvanized by anti-corruption hearings at the Senate that have exposed a telecommunications contract that allegedly involved kickbacks to senior officials and the president’s husband.
The protests stem from possible corruption charges against Arroyo’s husband.
A government official has testified before a Senate inquiry that Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel, and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos tried to get millions in kickbacks from a telecoms deal with China’s state-run firm ZTE.
The 339 million dollar transaction was suspended by Arroyo when the allegations first surfaced late last year, fuelling anti-government sentiment in the streets.
