[JURIST] Opponents of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [official website; Wikipedia profile] filed a new impeachment complaint against Arroyo on Monday, exactly one year after opponents filed an impeachment complaint on three other charges. The Philippine constitution allows only one impeachment lawsuit against a president per year. The charges on Monday allege corruption and human rights abuses for allegedly condoning political murders and violating the constitution to stifle dissent. Arroyo supporters dismiss the complaint as "futile" and a "political gimmick," and analysts predict that the new impeachment complaint will be dismissed due to insufficient support in the House of Representatives.

Members of the Philippines House of Representatives [official website] dismissed three impeachment charges [JURIST report] against Arroyo last September. She had faced allegations [JURIST report] that she rigged last year's election, condoned human rights violations and was involved in corruption. Government opponents have already warned of a political uprising if the new impeachment charges are dismissed on a technicality as they were last year. AP has more. From the Philippines, the Manila Standard Today has local coverage.