Pasay court orders Gloria Arroyo's arrest

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasay City court judge today ordered the arrest of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo based on the electoral sabotage case filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced in a press briefing at Malacañang that the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 has been relayed to the Pasay City police.

"It (the warrant of arrest) is already with the PNP (Philippine National Police). I think they are going to the airport," De Lima said, adding that if Mrs. Arroyo fails to arrive at the airport, policemen will serve the warrant at the hospital.

Spokespersons of Mrs. Arroyo said earlier that she was booked for a flight to Singapore at arond 5 p.m. The former president remains confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Global City, Taguig.

She said that she has also informed President Benigno Aquino III, who is currently in Indonesia, about the issuance of the warrant of arrest.

De Lima said that President Aquino told her "to treat the former president with utmost respect in consideration of whatever condition she has while in hospital." She said that this means the government will not object if Arroyo asks for a hospital or house arrest.

She added that out of courtesy to the former president, the DOJ immediately sent word to Arroyo's camp that the warrant of arrest has been issued against her.

She said that the information was relayed by Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to the camp of the former president through her son, Camarines Sur 1^st District Rep. Dato Arroyo.

In a press conference at the Supreme Court, spokesman Midas Marquez said that the temporary restraining order issued by the high court on the watchlist order by the DOJ remains in effect.

However, he said that Mrs. Arroyo can no longer leave the country.

"If you are going to ask if the former president can still leave, she is now barred because of the warrant of arrest," Marquez said.

Meanwhile, he said that former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo can push through with his plan to leave the country.

Judge Mupas issued the warrant of arrest hours after the Comelec filed the electoral sabotage case against the former president. Electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense.

The case is based on the alleged massive cheating during the 2007 senatorial election.

Reports said that arrest warrants have also been issued against former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol.

The arrest warrants issued against Ampatuan Sr. and Bedol are deemed served because they are already under custody.-- Angelo L. Gutierrez