Asian Political News: LEAD: 'People power' icon meets with widow of Arroyo rival

MANILA, June 30 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

Former President Corazon Aquino, who was catapulted to power in 1986 through a ''people-power'' uprising, met with the widow of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's main election rival Thursday amid the latter's call for Arroyo to resign, and said political changes in the country should be effected by constitutional means.

Aquino met Susan Roces, the late Fernando Poe Jr.'s actress wife who has called for Arroyo's resignation over allegations Arroyo cheated in last year's presidential election.

''I congratulated her on the passion of her speech, and the sincerity of her convictions, but I made clear that I will stand by the Constitution,'' Aquino said. ''I believe the Constitution contains all the ways by which one may safely effect even the most difficult political changes.''

''There is no need to step outside it. To step outside the Constitution will only expose us to greater danger than the injustice we want to correct,'' she said.

Roces, largely in the background when her husband ran against Arroyo last year, has gained admiration for a fiery speech Wednesday demanding that Arroyo quit.

Political analyst Benito Lim said Roces may become a unifying force for the opposition -- divided last year in the run against Arroyo -- and an ''acceptable voice'' for the middle class.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who also lost to Arroyo, said Thursday he will support Roces if she were to run in an election for president.

Aquino, highly regarded for moral leadership and supportive of the 2001 uprising that installed Arroyo as president, said she is calling for prayer and reflection ''so that, in the days ahead, the steps we take will be the right ones toward truth, justice and peace.''

On Thursday, civil society and business groups that are traditionally supportive of Arroyo strongly urged her to create an independent fact-finding commission by July 25 to look into the suspected electoral fraud.

The groups under the Citizens' Assembly for Truth said they seek reform in the country's political institutions and election body.

Rallies against Arroyo are increasing in frequency and attracting larger crowds, from many economic and political backgrounds, even as Arroyo appears bent on staying in power.

Arroyo has said her husband, who has been linked to an illegal gambling kickback controversy, will leave the Philippines to avoid further trouble.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who faces tax evasion charges, resigned Thursday as plans to weed liabilities from Arroyo's roster of officials appeared to be taking shape.

Recordings of a possibly improper Arroyo conversation with an election official during last year's campaign have been circulating for weeks and have become the subject of a congressional inquiry.

Arroyo made a public apology Monday for speaking with the poll official, calling the conversation a ''lapse in judgment,'' but her apology appears to have encouraged more calls for her resignation, not fewer.

The growing political tension has worried business, spooked the stock market, sent the peso plunging, sparked fresh coup rumors and forced the administration to place its police and military on alert during demonstrations.

Arroyo assumed the presidency after Joseph Estrada, accused of massive corruption, was ousted from office through massive military-backed protests.

She won a six-year term as president in May last year on promises she would reform the government and help the poor.

Aquino became president in 1986 after a people-power uprising ousted Ferdinand Marcos following the assassination of her husband, Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr., as he arrived back in the Philippines from exile.