Arroyo arrested for electoral fraud and corruption
Arroyo arrested on Friday by a trial court for vote rigging and corruption cases.
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been on hospital arrest on Friday as ordered by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court for electoral fraud and corruption.
A warrant of arrest against the former-president-turned-Pampanga-Congresswoman was served around 6:00 p.m. yesterday, November 18, at the St. Lukes’s Medical Center by officials from the Southern Police District.
In a press conference, Senior Superintendent James Bucayu said Mrs. Arroyo was placed under hospital arrest but her condition prevented her from completing booking requirements. Depending on Mrs. Arroyo's physical condition, it's either she'll stay at the hospital or be detained at the Southern Police District.
Judge Jesus B. Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the arrest of the former president right after the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) filed an electoral sabotage case against her yesterday morning.
Jesse M. Robredo of the DILG said that they will let Mrs. Arroyo choose where she wants to be put her under arrest, it's either in the hospital or at her house.
"The administration will accord correct treatment to Mrs. Arroyo being a former president, because she’s not well. We will accord due respect to the [former] president," he said.
Furthermore, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Palace will grant Mrs. Arroyo's choice of detention in house or hospital but if ever she tries to escape, she will be constrained and put to an appropriate detention facility.
"For as long as she stays in the hospital or maybe at home, we will not insist on bringing her to any detention facility, but the moment lumabas siya, then our law enforcers will be constrained to arrest her, and put her in an appropriate detention facility," she said.
The Commission on Elections filed an electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials on Friday morning.
COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes, via a phone patch interview with ANC News, said election commissioners had voted, 5-2, in favor of filing charges against the former President. The other commissioners who voted for the filing were Elias Yusoph, Rene Sarmiento, Gus Lagman and Robert Lim. The two who voted against were election official Lintang Bedol, and former Maguindanao official Andal Ampatuan Sr.
The COMELEC also petitioned RTC Judge Jesus Mupas to issue a hold departure order against the former president who is about to leave for Singapore today for medical treatment.
The joint panel however resolved to dismiss the charges against former first gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" T. Arroyo, for "insufficiency of evidence to establish probable cause."
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