MANILA — Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on the electoral sabotage charges filed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against her in connection with alleged fraud in the 2007 mid-term polls.

The 64-year-old Mrs. Arroyo pleaded not guilty during the arraignment conducted by Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City RTC Branch 112, signaling the start of a landmark trial that is expected to become the test case of the anti-corruption campaign of the Aquino administration.

Judge Mupas set the pre-trial on April 19.

The former President is currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, from where she was transported Thursday morning to the Pasay City Hall of Justice.

According to the Arroyo family’s counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the arraignment lasted only for about five to 10 minutes because Mrs. Arroyo waived the reading of the charges against her during the court proceedings.

“She (Arroyo) firmly and convincingly said ‘not guilty’ and the former President waived the reading of the criminal information because she perfectly understands the charges hurled against her,“ Topacio said.

“The allegations are very thin. For us, this arraignment is the first step towards acquittal,” the lawyer added.

Topacio also said that Mrs. Arroyo is suffering from a new illness – lumbar spinal stenosis, a degenerative arthritis that causes low back pains and weakness.

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo told reporters that the former President is frustrated. He and his two sons, Ang Galing Rep. Mike Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Datu Arroyo accompanied the former President in the packed courtroom.

“She feels it as an injustice to her. There was no case against her. She is frustrated,” the former presidential spouse said.

Mrs. Arroyo arrived at the Pasay City Hall grounds at around 8:40 a.m. on board a white coaster van with plate No. XCW-641, escorted by vehicles of the Philippine National Police-Police Security Protection Office (PSPO).

Looking well in a beige coat and wearing a neck brace and a brace around her waist, she smiled and waved to the media group as she alighted from a coaster along with her son Dato.

After the arraignment, Mrs. Arroyo went out of the Hall of Justice on a wheelchair and she was immediately brought to the convoy that took her back to the VMMC.

Members of the Pasay City Police and the Southern Police District (SPD) secured the City Hall grounds and roads leading to it. Only selected journalists were allowed to get inside the courtroom due to space constraints.

The court has allowed her to stay for the time being at the VMMC, saying she still needs treatment for her recurring back pains. (PNA)

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