Arroyo moves to heal rift after winning polls

The disputed count of the May 10 vote finally concluded Sunday after six weeks of bickering when Congress announced that Arroyo had beaten opposition candidate Fernando Poe, the Southeast Asian nation's most popular movie star, by just over one million votes.

Arroyo, who was expected to be formally given a fresh six-year mandate on Thursday or Friday, said she hoped the mainly Roman Catholic country would now move on.

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"We will combine the rule of law and reconciliation process to consolidate our nation and prepare to meet tough times ahead," Arroyo said in a statement.

"The Filipino people have spoken and let us give room for unity and solidarity."