Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is ready to face impeachment charges resulted from the scandal concerning her alleged cheating in the last president elections, the government said Monday.
 
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview that opposition lawmakers should follow the proper legal process in attempt to start impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives.

"As long as they meet all the requirements, they can continue," he said.

President Arroyo is haunted by the scandal after some wiretapping tapes were disclosed containing conversation between her and an election commissioner concerning cheating in the elections last year.

Last week, opposition lawmakers said that they would initiate impeachment proceedings against the president over allegations of election cheating and corruption, which was highlighted recently by the scandal that her family members were involved in "jueteng" illegal gambling.

However, Bunye expressed gratitude to former presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, and even actress Susan Roces, wife of the late former presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., for calling the public for the calmness in face of the controversies.

The House committees on public information, national defense, public order and security, electoral reform and information technology are set to hold a joint investigation about the alleged wiretapping on June 15.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2005)