SINGAPORE: Former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges she rigged congressional elections in 2007. Arroyo, who has been detained since November 18, waved and smiled as she arrived at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court but did not issue any statement ahead of the hearing. She had previously denied the charges, which are punishable by life in prison. “This is the first step towards the acquittal,” Ferdinand Topacio, one of Arroyo's lawyers, said after the arraignment. Topacio said the defense team was preparing for the trial, scheduled to start April 19. “The next move is we will be ready for the trial so we can fast-track the hearings because an innocent person is languishing in jail,” he said outside the court. Arroyo was president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010 when she was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. The case has left many in the country frustrated over the political nature of the future of the Philippines. One government official told Bikyamasr.com that “this case will be a litmus test for the coming years of political life. If the case is successful it will bring a new time for transparency much needed here in the country.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/i9GrW Tags: Corruption, Gloria Arroyo, Philippines, Trial Section: East Asia, Latest News
