More Setbacks for Philippine Leader
Philippine Senate majority leader Franklin Drilon has decided to defect from President Joseph Estrada’s ruling coalition over a gambling payoffs scandal engulfing the administration, local radio said today.
Drilon was to announce the move at a news conference later in the day, the report said.
If he does defect, it would be the second major political blow for Estrada in a day. House of Representatives Speaker Manuel Villar announced earlier that he and about 40 other congressmen were deserting government ranks to press for Estrada’s impeachment.
Estrada still holds a majority in the House and Senate and looks likely to survive any move to oust him. But he has been badly hit by today’s defections and the resignation Thursday of Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is leading the effort to oust Estrada over charges that he received gambling syndicate bribes.
Estrada has denied the accusations and said Thursday that voters should decide if he stays in office.
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