Arroyo arraignment deferred

Former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

MANILA, Philippines—The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 has postponed the arraignment of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, originally set on February 20 to March 19.

Pasay RTC Judge Jesus Mupas rescheduled Arroyo’s arraignment as the court still needs to resolve the pending motions filed by the former leader, lawyer Felda Domingo of the Pasay court said.

Arroyo has a pending motion to quash the electoral sabotage case against her saying that it was the Sandiganbayan, not the Pasay Court, which has jurisdiction over the case. Former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos, who is facing a separate charge for electoral sabotage, has similar pending motion before the same court.

Arroyo, together with former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former election officer Lintang Bedol, is accused of manipulating the results of the 2007 congressional elections.