Asian Political News: Arroyo's husband leaves for U.S. amid political chaos

MANILA, July 6 Kyodo

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's husband, accused of taking illegal gambling payoffs, left for the United States on Wednesday amid a political storm over election rigging and other scandals threatening his wife's stay in office.

Jose Miguel, known as ''Mike,'' boarded a Cathay Pacific flight alone, his spokesman Jesus Santos said.

Arroyo said last week her husband, a lawyer, would voluntarily leave the Philippines to spare her from more controversies.

Mike did not answer questions from reporters, merely waved, Santos said. ''He was very sad. He was holding his grandchild and he could not let go.''

Allegations Arroyo cheated to win last year's presidential election -- allegedly evidenced by tapped phone conversations between her and an election official -- have generated a major political turmoil that opposition forces and critics say can only result in Arroyo stepping down through resignation, popular uprising or impeachment.

Arroyo has acknowledged a ''lapse in judgment'' in speaking with an unnamed election official in the presidential election last year, but said she did not try to influence the election result. The apology appeared to have stoked louder calls for her to quit office.

The House of Representatives is now investigating the conversation. The chamber, which has prosecutorial power in impeaching a sitting president, has yet to act on two separate impeachment complaints filed against Arroyo.

Meanwhile, opposition and leftist groups calling on Arroyo to resign have been organizing rallies. At least two universities associated with the middle class and the intelligentsia have also spoken against Arroyo.

The military and police top brass have professed their loyalty to Arroyo, but rumors of defections or attempts to effect defections have not died down.

Arroyo allies, including business groups, have called for the establishment of a commission with mandate to investigate the tape, saying they will support only constitutionally mandated political changes.

Anti-Arroyo rallies, gatherings and forums are gaining frequency but do not have the size of the crowds that propelled Arroyo's predecessor, Joseph Estrada, out of office in January 2001 over corruption charges.

Aside from election rigging, Arroyo's administration has been hit by allegations that Mike and other family members received illegal gambling kickbacks.

The presidential election in May last year gave Arroyo a fresh six-year term in office, until 2010.