Political opponents of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo filed a new impeachment complaint today in a bid to unseat her over allegations of corruption and human rights abuses.
Ms Arroyo survived an impeachment attempt last year, and analysts expect the latest charge to fail due to insufficient support in the lower house of Congress, where her allies hold a majority.
Several anti-Arroyo groups filed the fresh complaint to the House of Representatives after holding an overnight vigil outside the Congress building.
The president is in Italy on an official visit and will return to the Philippines on Sunday after travelling to Spain.
"I think she should tell the truth," said Corazon Soliman, a former member of Ms Arroyo's cabinet who quit in July and called on her to resign over alleged vote-rigging in the May 2004 election.
"She should come out. Not foil the impeachment. She wants her day in court. So she must face this impeachment court. And tell the truth to the people."
Retired general Eduardo Ermita, Ms Arroyo's executive secretary, dismissed the filing of the impeachment complaint as a "political gimmick" to embarrass the president, who met with Pope Benedict XVI today.
Ms Arroyo has not been able to shake accusations she stole the 2004 vote and that some of her family members benefited from illegal gambling, an allegation that toppled former President Joseph Estrada in 2001.