Their vote was outnumbered and some of the opposition senators cried in front of Senate President Pimentel.

It is in commemoration of the assassinated Philippine opposition senator.

And Ax Milnk showed unexpected strength, joining the opposition senators against the Emperor.

Initially, a first-term opposition senator will serve as acting president but only for two days.

Maurizio Gasparri, an opposition senator and a former minister of communications, said the government's "grave and incorrect interference" in the bid had been "greatly damaging."

The suggestion that the opposition senators "have been swayed by anything but conscientious intellect is slanderous," the North Carolina Democrat said.

Facing him was the minority leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. backed by several fellow opposition senators.

But the opposition senators were counting on the debate to give the public its view of the issue.

But an opposition senator briefed by Mr. Chapa asserted as much on Tuesday, and officials said investigators were taking pains not to trumpet their progress.

He became the first opposition senator in the country since the consolidation of the rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).