The opposition bloc against Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives is willing to accept the old rules used in the impeachment case against former President Joseph Estrada, House Minority Leader Fransis said Friday.

"I will move for the adoption of the old rules so that we can have the soonest possible time to start the proceeding," House Escudero told local newspapers.

"If the old rules were good for the previous impeachable officer, it should also be good for Mrs. Arroyo," he said, adding that he would propose the adoption of the old rules next week to his colleagues.

"Any of the allegations is sufficient enough to impeach the president. And we believe that there's no weak offense in our allegations," Escudero said in a press briefing Friday.

Earlier, the opposition proposed a "creeping impeachment" or gradual collection of 79 or one-third votes of the 236 lawmakers at the House, but the majority refused to accept it.

The approval of the impeachment rules has been stalled this week.

Under the Congress rules, the impeachment case against Arroyo would be transmitted directly to the Senate for trial if the opposition had gotten 79 of their colleagues to sign the complaint.

Now the complaint has been referred to the House committee on justice for deliberations before it is sent to the plenary for the final vote, which will require one-third of the House membership.

Source: Xinhua