MANILA, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine Senate has passed a resolution condemning President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency, local newspaper Manila Times reported Tuesday on its website.

    The resolution will give the Senate a reason to hold hearings into the state of the emergency, according to the report.

    The Philippine Senate has become a stronghold of opponents of President Arroyo since a political crisis broke out last year over alleged electoral fraud committed by the president during the 2004 presidential election.

    The Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said the state of national emergency is being used "to abuse the people, trample on their rights and even threaten the senators into agreeing to Charter change and extend the president's stay in office".

    The senators said the state of emergency is not justified because the government said the alleged coup attempt by rebels has already been crushed and its conspirators put under custody of the military and police.

    Most senators want to start hearings to probe into Proclamation 1017 at once, according to the resolution. Enditem