MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) – A Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge has issued an arrest warrant against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after she was charged with electoral sabotage by the Commission Elections (Comelec) on Friday morning.
Pasay RTC 112 Judge Jesus Mupas issued the arrest warrants for Arroyo, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol.
As of posting time, Mrs. Arroyo was still at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, but is booked to leave for Singapore at 5:10 p.m.
Ampatuan is detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in connection with the Maguindanao massacre. Bedol is also under detention.
A lawyer of the Commission on Elections filed on Friday electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo, Ampatuan and Bedol for allegedly rigging the results of the 2007 mid-term elections. Also included in the charge sheet is former Comelec chief Benjamin Abalos Sr.
The Comelec also asked the court to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against Arroyo.
Sen. Francis Escudero earlier said Arroyo could go straight to jail if the court finds probable cause for poll sabotage. He said electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense.
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By: report from Dexter Ganibe, dzMM
Source: ABS-CBN News, Nov. 18, 2011
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