MANILA, July 11: A respected former Philippine leader on Monday repeated calls for President Gloria Arroyo to resign over a political scandal but a defiant Arroyo was determined to ride out the crisis, according to aides. Former president Corazon Aquino, once one of Arroyo’s closest allies, urged her to ‘make the supreme sacrifice’ and hand over power to the vice-president for the sake of the country.

Aquino said there were only two constitutional options to end the political crisis: a handover of power to the vice president or impeachment.

“I ask the president to spare our country and herself from this second option,” she said.

Aides said Arroyo would not quit despite the resignation of 10 senior ministers.—AFP