Lawmakers in the Philippines' Congress have filed an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, charging that she rigged last year's election and accusing her family members of corruption. The move came hours before Arroyo was scheduled to deliver her annual state of the nation address, in which she was expected to propose constitutional reforms. The filing against Arroyo claims she "stole, cheated and lied" to obtain and hold power. A summary of the complaint, seen by The Associated Press, accuses Arroyo of 10 major crimes including election fraud and corruption. It claims she can be impeached on at least four grounds. "By so flouting justice and the rule of law, she has committed an unforgivable outrage against the Filipino people," it says. Arroyo's ruling coalition holds majorities in both the Philippines' houses of congress. Arroyo has denied manipulating the May 2004 ballot by discussing vote counting with an election official before she was declared the winner. She has said she is ready to face an impeachment trial to clear her name and has announced a "truth commission," which will probe the allegations against her. Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia, in an interview with CNN International Monday, said he would transmit the impeachment complaints to the Philippine's Committee on Justice "because we must have full transparency." President Arroyo had to "face this problem squarely in the congress of the Philippines," he said. De Venecia said lawmakers had so far failed to garner the 79 votes necessary to bring the impeachment complaint to the Senate for a trial.
