THE PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday it was time to overhaul a dysfunctional political system in the Philippines but avoided any mention of an attempt to impeach her. But the annual state of the nation address fell short of what many analysts had expected to be a rousing plan of action at a time of deep crisis.
The opposition filed an impeachment complaint in the lower house of congress earlier but did not get enough support to send the motion straight to trial by senators in the upper house.
The economy was "poised for take-off" but the political system was a "hindrance to progress", Ms Arroyo told a joint session of congress and a gallery of government workers, army and police generals, and members of the Catholic clergy.
"It's time to start the great debate on charter change," she said, referring to a proposed reworking of the constitution and a possible shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system to ease gridlock and speed up the passage of laws.