Arroyo in vote row

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo admitted yesterday she talked to a Philippine election official, as detailed in recordings that have prompted calls for her to quit, but insisted she did not influence the vote count.

The opposition, which also accuses members of Arroyo’s family of taking kickbacks from illegal gambling syndicates, has seized on the recordings of conversations as proof she cheated her way to a fresh term in May 2004.