Arroyo gets reprieve

Influential Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines yesterday rejected calls for Gloria Arroyo to step down, handing the embattled president a major reprieve after weeks of turmoil.

The politically powerful Catholic Church, which played a decisive role in the ouster of presidents in 1986 and 2001, said the clergy's role was to provide moral guidance in confusing times and not be "politicians with a blueprint".

Defying mounting calls on her to quit over allegations of election fraud, Arroyo said on Friday she had done no wrong and challenged her opponents to pursue an impeachment case.

But the bishops said Arroyo's apology, for "a lapse in judgment" in speaking to an election official while votes were being counted last year, was insufficient. They demanded the creation of an independent commission to look into the allegations of election fraud and corruption in her family.