RP leader accuses opposition of holding democracy hostage

RP leader accuses opposition of holding democracy hostage

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday accused
the opposition of holding hostage the country's democratic system
by delaying the congressional canvassing of votes from last
month's elections.

"The truth is that the opposition has been holding the people
and the democratic system hostage through unwarranted
stonewalling," she said in a statement.

Arroyo urged the opposition to exercise statesmanship and
called for a speedy tally of votes from the May 10 elections.

"We expect from the opposition to act with statesmanship," she
said. "It is time to move forward."

As mandated by the country's constitution, only Congress can
tally the votes and proclaim the winners for the two highest
positions in the land.

A congressional committee tallying the votes for president and
vice president has been moving at snail pace due to objections
raised by opposition lawmakers.

The constitution also set June 30 for the date of the
inauguration of the new president and vice president but until
early Monday the Congress has only tallied 55 of the 176
certificates of canvass containing the votes counted in the
provincial level.

Analysts expressed concern that if no new president is
inaugurated June 30, the country could face a constitutional
crisis.

Unofficial tallies and exit polls showed Arroyo winning by a
slim margin over her closest rival, opposition candidate actor
Fernando Poe Junior.

But Poe's camp has accused the Arroyo administration of
rigging the polls and vowed to present evidence before Congress
to prove their allegations. -- DPA