Friday, September 02, 2005 (Philippines)

Protester holds a placard during a demonstration at the People Power Monument in Manila. Yesterday’s protesters demanded that Government kill the E-VAT Law, not the impeachment of President Arroyo.(Afp photo) The Arroyo administration scored two successive victories in the political and legal fronts. A day after the House committee voted to throw out three impeachment complaints against the President, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the Expanded-Value Added Tax (E-VAT) Law is valid. In a unanimous vote, the High Court yesterday upheld the constitutionality of the E-VAT Law, which Malacañang has said is crucial in addressing the government’s budget deficit and debts. [full story]