MANILA, Philippines – Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally requested the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Friday morning, October 12, to defer her arraignment for a plunder case. 

Through her lawyers, Mrs Arroyo filed the petition days before her scheduled arraignment on Monday, October 15. During arraignment proceedings, the complaint is read to the accused, who then enters a plea of guilty or not guilty.

Mrs Arroyo remains confined at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center even as her doctors have yet to “substantiate” her petition for hospital arrest. The Sandiganbayan will summon her doctors next week to study this request.

Last October 4, the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against Mrs Arroyo in connection with a P366-M plunder suit earlier filed against her and 9 others by the Ombudsman.

Mrs Arroyo had been arraigned for two cases this year. She faced arraignment for alleged electoral sabotage in February, and for alleged graft in April. She pleaded not guilty in both proceedings. – Rappler.com