Philippines' Aquino vows new era of clean rule

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MANILA, May 12 (AFP): Philippine president-elect Benigno Aquino pledged a new era of clean government as he railed Wednesday against outgoing leader Gloria Arroyo and her corruption-tainted administration.
The son of late democracy heroine Corazon Aquino trounced his rivals by a landslide in national elections Monday and has since unleashed a barrage of criticism of his longtime rival.
The latest flare-up came after Arroyo on Wednesday named a new chief justice to the Supreme Court, one of a string of appointments Aquino and other critics believe are intended to maintain influence once she steps down.
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Aquino vowed to probe Arroyo for allegedly trying to rig the 2004 presidential election and accused her of using her time in power to enrich herself.
"She could have brought significant changes to this country but she chose to advance her personal interests and those who were supporting her personal interests to the detriment of the country," he said.
Aquino, a 50-year-old senator who campaigned on a pledge of clean government and a pledge to wipe out corruption in the impoverished nation, sought to portray an opposite image to one many Filipinos have of Arroyo.