Philippine Armed Forces to Remain Loyal to ConstitutionThe Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will remain united, steadfast and loyal to the Constitution in the face of mounting calls from some sectors for military intervention to resolve the political crisis gripping the nation.AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo T. Reyes made the assurance in a speech at a gift-giving ceremony for wounded military personnel confined at the AFP Medical Center in Metro Manila Saturday. Reyes warned that any military intervention to settle the raging political crisis will only create more problems. In the light of this turmoil, the 130,000-strong AFP will "remain united, steadfast, steady and loyal (to the Constitution) or we have a problem," he said. He said the whole nation "is watching" the unfolding impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada before a Senate tribunal, which began on Thursday. The President, impeached for charges of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution, would be removed from office if convicted on any of the four charges by a two-thirds vote in the 22-member Senate. Estrada's impeachment trial, the first for a Philippine leader, followed allegations by a provincial governor that the president received more than 11 million U.S. dollars in illegal gambling payoffs and tobacco tax kickbacks in nearly two years in the past. Estrada, who has repeatedly denied the charges and rejected calls for his resignation from the opposition, expressed confidence on Friday that he would be acquitted. "I don't care how many bombs they (his prosecutors) drop," he told reporters at the presidential palace. "I'm already impeached. That's why we have the trial now, but I believe I'll be acquitted. " "I am the first president to be impeached and will also be the first to be acquitted," he added. |
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