President Arroyo facing impeachment.

Manila--A sidebar to the events following the Cardinal's death is that the rule of President Arroyo is now quite shaky. There are still many Estrada supporters in the country who claim that her policies are corrupt, favouring the rich and foreign investors.

Earlier this year, the Bishops Conference organized a mass rally in Manila and country-wide protests against a proposed population bill which had the support of the Arroyo government. Bill 3773 would restrict family size to two children and introduce sex education in schools. Among its opponents is Manila mayor Lito Atienza, who describes it as "destructive"; he lambasted the government for its failure to genuinely address poverty (LifeSiteNews.com, March 7, 2005).

Opponents of Arroyo accuse her of having rigged the May, 2004, election which led to her victory for a second presidential term. Her conversation with an electoral commissioner was wiretapped and released by her political opposition; Arroyo apologized for her "lapse in judgment" but denied the intention to cheat.

Some of Arroyo's relatives are accused of taking bribes. In an effort to deflect criticism, Arroyo announced that her husband Jose Miguel, a lawyer and businessman, would leave the country, disassociating himself from her government (National Post, June 30, 2005). On July 7, she asked her cabinet to resign to give her more leeway to introduce economic reforms (Associated Press). On July 13, Arroyo's opponents organized a rally which only drew 30,000 supporters, a far cry from the million who forced Estrada out. Former president Fidel Ramos has come to her support; he is proposing that the existing presidential system be replaced with a parliamentary one (Epoch Times, July 14). Meanwhile, beloved former President Corazon Aquino is among those demanding Arroyo's resignation (Washington Post, July 8). The Filipino Congress is preparing an impeachment case against Arroyo, even though she announced a "truth commission" that is to be created by administrative order (INQ7.net, July 21).

Three Catholic bishops have expressed support for the movement to oust Arroyo, although the president of the Bishops' Conference has not, as yet, formally backed them. The Church continues to monitor the government's positions with regard to "seeing the truth and protecting the welfare of the people" (Catholic World Report, June 2005).

The bishops have acknowledged that the popular calls for Arroyo's resignation, the creation of a "truth commission," and the start of an impeachment process may all be considered consistent with the Gospel. Their statement, entitled "Restoring Trust: A Plea for Moral Values in Philippine Politics," was released following a meeting July 8 through 11. The bishops declined to specifically demand Arroyo's resignation, but stated that the Filipino people distrust the country's economic institutions and political system (Zenit, July 17, 19, 2005).