Impeachment charges against Philippines President Gloria Arroyo have been dismissed. The move is a relief for the embattled president, but it is no real vote of confidence in her or her administration. The move reflects the balance of power in the legislature, not a consideration of the merits of the allegations. The opposition has vowed to maintain pressure, ensuring that divisions in Philippine society will continue. The Philippines deserves better, and only a full evaluation of the charges against Mrs. Arroyo will permit that.
The latest political crisis in Manila began last year, when audio tapes were released that revealed Mrs. Arroyo talking to an election official and discussing vote counts in the presidential election. The tapes appear to show the president condoning the manipulation of tallies to ensure her election. At first, presidential spokespersons said the tapes were doctored, but Mrs. Arroyo later admitted to telephoning an election official during the vote count -- a lack of judgment, no matter what was discussed -- and conceded that it was the wrong thing to do, although she denied encouraging him to rig the count. She made no comments on the authenticity of the tapes.
In the ensuing uproar, Mrs. Arroyo asked for the resignation of her Cabinet, although she said that she herself would not step down. Her husband, who has been a lightning rod for controversy for his own business practices, left the country to dampen talk of influence peddling after being accused of accepting bribes from gambling syndicates; her son, a congressman and also charged with accepting bribes, left too, although he recently returned to the Philippines.