Bishops assail officials who received 'cash gifts'

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Influential Roman Catholic bishops urged the Philippine government to explain scathing allegations that bags of cash were handed to governors and lawmakers to induce them to block an impeachment bid against President Gloria Arroyo.

The latest in a series of scandals to hit Arroyo broke after two provincial governors, including a respected Catholic priest, said Monday they each received  P 500,000 pesos from an unidentified government official.

Arroyo has not addressed the allegations and Cabinet members said they did not know where the money came from.

But her spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, on Monday denied rumors that lawmakers were bribed.