Morato to be arraigned this week on poll case

Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chair Manuel Morato is set to be arraigned this week by a Quezon City court on the electioneering charges against him.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 87 Judge Aurora Hernandez-Calledo has scheduled Morato’s arraignment for Aug. 28 on the four counts of electioneering filed against him by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Multiple charges of violation of Republic Act No. 9006, or the Fair Elections Act, and Batas Pambansa 881, or the Omnibus Election Code, were filed against Morato for allegedly using several episodes of his public affairs television program “Dial M” to campaign for former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in the 2010 presidential election.

The cases, which were initially pursued by lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan against Morato, were filed on July 20 before the Quezon City court after the Comelec junked on July 16 a motion for reconsideration that the former PCSO official filed.

With “no new argument raised” by the respondent, the Comelec en banc directed its legal division to file charges against Morato, saying in its decision denying his motion for reconsideration: “Lest we allow a mockery of justice so the respondent (Morato) can evade the judgment against him, his motion must therefore be denied.”

The four counts of alleged election-related offenses include the use of public funds and government equipment and facilities for an election campaign; two counts of prohibited forms of election propaganda, and broadcasting of political advertisements or propaganda.