Disputes arose after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confessed Monday night that her call to an election commissioner during the last election was a "lapse of judgment."  

President Arroyo expressed her hope in a TV speech that her apology and appeal to the nation for continued support could "close this chapter and move on with the business of governing."

However, the opinion collected by the local TV station, the ABS-CBN, from law professionals, business leaders, non-governmental organization heads, and people from other sectors, showed that the admission could possibly result in the beginning of chapter two.

Former President Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in 2001 amid corruption allegations, told the ABS-CBN that Arroyo must be made to answer in court and the Congress should also be asked to play in full the wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and commissioner Virgilio Garcillano in which they allegedly conspired to rig the votes.

"Her apology is noted, but she must face the consequences of her action," Estrada said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel also repeated his call for the resignation of President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro, saying that it was the most "expedient and constitutional" way to end the political turmoil.

Expecting the opposition's reaction to Arroyo's admission, Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye noted that there was no illegality in the president's conversations with the election official.

Bunye also said that the president, who "was strong, confident and truthful," should be credited for taking full responsibility and for addressing the issue head-on.

The Arroyo administration's apology and call for forgiveness and support were not totally refused.

Chen Huayue, president of the biggest Filipino-Chinese newspaper World News, told Xinhua that Arroyo's admission was a good step by ending the political speculation and argument, which would help her win understanding and forgiveness from the public.

He also said that the wiretapping tapes of Arroyo's conversation with the election commissioner can hardly prove her cheating during the last election because the call was made after all votes had been counted.

During the interview with the ABS-CBN, Guillerno Luz, executive director of Makati Business Club, one of the most influential business organization in the country, expressed the appreciation to the president for her admission to reduce the political uncertainty as soon as possible, thus pulling the economic development back to the normal track.

However, he doubted that Arroyo's apology could be the last scenario of this political crisis, saying that more political challenges are expected toward the Arroyo's administration.

"This is not a simple play of apology and forgiveness. The disclosure can't come out of the speech," he said.

On the impact of the issue on business prospect, Luz said that his fellows wish there would be less political concerns and the country would be out of endless cycle of political discord and return to development track.

During the TV speech, President Arroyo noted her economic accomplishment since the beginning of her mandate last July and vowed to continue the ongoing economic reform to the second phase of her agenda.

Luz said, however, that the promise of the economic development is not enough for the president to retrieve the trust from the public. "We have to take lessons (from the wiretapping incidence) and remember it in our lives."

Luz, citing political turmoil caused by election progress argue as one biggest political concerns to the business sector in the next two or three years, urged the reform of the state electoral system through modernized and automatic counting and better acceptance of the public to the election result.

Arroyo's admission failed in stopping the truth-finding by the public about the wiretapping tapes.

Civil society groups Monday said in a press conference that they have established a "truth commission" to look into the wiretapped tapes, saying that only an independent body composed of persons of "unquestionable integrity could fully resolve the vital questions surrounding the tapes."

A supporter of the commission, a certain Bernie, told Xinhua, that although Arroyo can be forgiven for her "lapse of judgment," she still has to answer questions about the content of her conversation with the election official or she would lose credibility to be a strong president as ever.

Antonio Bautista, law professor from the University of the Philippines, said in the interview with the ABS-CBN that despite the president's admission, the wiretapping case is still possible to be brought to the Congress, even resulting in the impeachment files.

Earlier Monday, independent lawyer Oliver Lozano lodged an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives against President Arroyo.

Under the Philippine laws, any citizen can file an impeachment complaint against the president at the House and it will be sent to the Senate for trial after it is approved by at least one-third of House members.

However, argue will arise over whether Arroyo's call to an election official during the election period can be ruled as the violation of the law, Bautista said.

"Deeper investigation is needed," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2005)