|
 |
| Philippines President Gloria Arroyo looks on
before delivering her statement in a live television addressed to
the nation at the Malacanang presidential palace, in
Manila. |
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
saying it was her voice in recordings that have sparked calls for her to
quit, apologized on Monday for a lapse in judgment but insisted she did
not sway
last year's
election.
The opposition, which also accuses members of
Arroyo's family of taking kickbacks
of illegal gambling, has seized on the recordings of
conversations with a senior election official as proof she cheated her way
to a fresh term in May 2004.
"I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had
conversations with many people, including a Comelec (commission on
elections) official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the
election and it did not," she said in a televised speech, breaking three
weeks of silence over the recordings.
"I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I am
sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter."
There is no law to stop candidates from talking to election officials.
But the opposition says the recordings, which seem to show Arroyo calling
on election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano for a bigger margin of
victory, broke the ethical limits.
Arroyo's spokesman had previously said the recordings had been
doctored.
Nothing has been proven against Arroyo or her family, with the
government saying the accusations are part of a plot to undermine and oust
her. But the political noise has rattled financial markets over fears for
Arroyo's fiscal reform agenda.
(CNN) | 
Updated: 2005-06-28 08:55
