Arroyo Allies Win Big in Lower House Elections in Philippines
By Daniel Hollingsworth
May 23, 2007 | Printer Friendly

Preliminary results from the Philippines’ national elections indicate a major victory in the lower house of Congress for parties supporting President Gloria Arroyo.  The Manila Times is reporting that at least 195 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives have been secured by Arroyo supporters, with only 15 seats yet to be determined.  While the Senate is expected to be won by the opposition, the victory in the lower house is crucial, as it ensures that Arroyo will not face a third motion for impeachment before her final term expires in 2010.  One-third of the House of Representatives is required to impeach the President, a threshold that will not be met by the opposition.  The governing coalition previously held 192 seats in the House, and that number could increase to 200 for the 14th Congress.

Meanwhile, allegations of vote-manipulation have begun to surface.  New votes will be conducted in parts of the south, as threats to election officers prevented some votes there from being cast.  Since the beginning of campaigning in January, nearly 150 people have been killed in attacks linked to the election.

References:

The Manila Times: GMA allies claim 195 House seats

Reuters: Arroyo allies dominate Philippine lower house polls

Manila Standard Today: House majority gets bigger after election