Arroyo asks Sandiganbayan permission to register as voter in Pampanga

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has sought the permission of the Sandiganbayan to allow Arroyo to go to her hometown Pampanga to register for the elections.

In a motion filed before the anti-graft court first division, Arroyo’s lawyers said the former president’s voter’s registration needed to be reactivated in Lubao, Pampanga because she failed to vote in the two previous elections.

The Commission on Elections deactivates voters’ registration when a voter fails to vote in two consecutive elections.

A deactivated voter cannot be a member of the House of Representatives, according to the Constitution. Arroyo is a Pampanga representative.

Arroyo’s camp also sought the court’s nod for her to register for biometrics registration. The poll body has required mandatory biometrics registration for the upcoming 2016 elections.

Arroyo’s lawyers said after she completed her voter requirements, Arroyo would return to Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where she is under hospital arrest.

Arroyo is detained in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds under her term.

RELATED STORIES
Sandiganbayan rejects Arroyo’s request to post bail

Comelec urges early voter registration, validation of old registration