MANILA, June 27: Embattled Philippines leader Gloria Arroyo on Monday admitted calling an election commissioner during polls last year, as secretly recorded tapes purportedly reveal, but denied rigging the vote. The president apologized for the telephone call in a sombre television address, ending weeks of silence on the issue. It is the latest in a series of blows to her credibility which have prompted increasing calls for her to resign.
“I’m sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter,” Ms Arroyo said.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events.”
The vote-rigging claims arose from tape recordings of a woman sounding like Ms Arroyo talking to a man believed to be Commission on Elections (COMELEC) member Virgilio Garcillano, apparently about manipulating the election outcome in her favour.
“I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a COMELEC official,” Ms Arroyo said, describing the call as a ‘lapse in judgment’.
“My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election and it did not.”
She rejected calls to step down and asked the public to draw a line under the incident.
However, opponents seized on the admission by Ms Arroyo, who had already been on the defensive due to a faltering economy, rampant corruption and allegations her family was involved in illegal gambling.
About 200 activists cheered in jubilation as they listened to Ms Arroyo’s address on portable radios in downtown Manila. They banged pots and pans in a ‘noise barrage’ they expect to snowball into major protests in the coming days.
Ex-president Joseph Estrada, whom Ms Arroyo replaced in a military-backed popular revolt in 2001, accused the president of lying to the public and said she should be made to face the consequences.
“She continues to lie and she is trying to manipulate us again,” Mr Estrada told ANC television, adding: “She has to answer to that.”
Congress should be asked to play the wire-tapped conversations in full, said Mr Estrada, who was unseated in a military-backed revolt.—AFP
