Hospital or house detention likely for former president after lower court orders her arrest

THE Pasay City Regional Trial Court yesterday issued a warrant of arrest against former president now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and former provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol in connection with the alleged cheating in the 2007 national elections.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Mrs. Arroyo could be held under hospital or house arrest if her camp would request such accommodation.

De Lima said President Benigno Aquino III, who is in Bali, Indonesia attending the 19th ASEAN Summit, had told her to treat the former president "with utmost respect in consideration of whatever condition she has."

"Hindi kami mago-object sa hospital arrest pero wala sa amin yan, ang desisyon does not lie with us, the complainant, nasa korte yan. Kailangan humingi sila. I think they should get court approval," De Lima told reporters in a press conference in Malacañang.

The court came up with the warrant of arrest after more than four hours of deliberation on the electoral sabotage complaint which was filed around 11:30 a.m. yesterday before Judge Jesus Mupas.

The announcement was made around 4:10 p.m. at the jampacked court  room by the clerk of court who told the mediamen that after careful evaluation the court found probable cause for issuing the warrant of arrest.

However, Judge Mupas did not decide yet on the government petition for a hold departure order. The petition will be heard on Monday around 9:30 a.m.

The arrest warrant was given to the National Bureau of   Investigation and the Philippine National Police to serve to the respondents particularly the ailing former president who is confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.

The Commission on Elections asked the court to issue a hold departure order against the three accused, particularly the former president because she has shown interest in flying out of the country although her illness is not life threatening.

According to Atty. Efrain Bag-id of the Comelec Legal Department, only Mrs. Arroyo can be described as “at large” because Ampatuan is now under detention at the Metro Manila District Jail in Bicutan, Taguig City while Bedol is in protective custody.

Bag-id clarified that they decided to first file the electoral sabotage against the three accused and file another case against former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. for the same offense.

Based on the three-page information of the joint DoJ-Comelec Preliminary Investigation Committee, the three accused conspired to ensure the 12-0 win of the senatorial candidates of the Team Unity in Maguindanao by tampering with the result of the Provincial Certificates of Canvass of Votes, Statement of Votes and Summary Statement of Votes in Maguindanao province in 2007.

With Efren Montano