MANILA, Philippines -- At least two civil society groups, led by former Senate president Jovito Salonga, have filed plunder and corruption charges against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the alleged large-scale bribery scandal.

In a three-page complaint, the Kilosbayan and Bantay Katarungan accused Arroyo of violating ethical standards when she -- by her own admission in a radio interview -- signed a $330 million telecommunications contract with Chinese company ZTE Corp. despite being warned of anomalies in the deal the night before.

The groups’ lawyer, Emil Capulong, said Arroyo “cancelled the contract only on Sept. 22, 2007, five months after hearing the anomalies in the contract.”

The complaint was filed at the Office of the Ombudsman, the constitutionally independent body investigating graft and corruption among public officials. Investigators may file charges in court if there is enough evidence.

At least two other criminal complaints have been filed with the ombudsman against Arroyo, but they remain unresolved.

The latest plunder complaint came amid nationally televised Senate testimonies, where former project consultants testified that the President's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and former elections chief Benajamin Abalos Sr. -- who has since quit -- benefited from huge kickbacks linked to the aborted contract.

President Arroyo has not directly addressed the allegations against her and her husband but says that she opposes corruption and that her family does no business with the government.

On Wednesday, ZTE denied claims made by engineer Dante Madriaga that it paid US$41 million in bribes to officials.

Testifying on Tuesday, Madriaga introduced himself as a former ZTE consultant and head of the national broadband network project's design team. But ZTE said he "never directly took part in the NBN project operations," and "testified ... on matters he did not participate in."

"ZTE reiterates that it did not bribe anyone," a ZTE statement said.

While all those involved have denied the allegations, the scandal and anti-Arroyo street protests have grown and coup rumors are swirling again.

Police said they have received reliable intelligence reports of a possible plot by junior military officers and others to overthrow the government.

Officials cited the reports in postponing Wednesday's scheduled arraignment of an opposition senator, a former army commander and 16 other soldiers charged with rebellion for occupying a hotel last year with the aim of triggering an anti-Arroyo uprising.

Also on Wednesday, activists criticized Roman Catholic bishops for failing to join their calls for Arroyo's resignation, and planned another rally Friday to keep up the pressure on her.

Organizers said they hope the interfaith rally comprising Arroyo critics, church activists and one of the country's largest evangelical protest groups, the Jesus is Lord Movement, will muster at least 50,000 protesters in Manila's financial district of Makati.

Thousands took to the streets Monday, after another 10,000 rallied in Manila last Friday. With Abigail Kwok, INQUIRER.net