The Commission on Election has signed a resolution seeking to file electoral sabotage charges against former President, now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"COMELEC en banc has signed a resolution calling for the filing of a case for electoral sabotage against former president GMA," James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman said.
Jimenez said commissioners voted 5-2. Two other commissioners abstained from voting.
Reports say the case has been filed before the Pasay Regional Trial 112 court under Jesus Mupas.
Jimenez said apart from Arroyo, charges have also been filed against Former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, former Comelec election supervisor Lintang Bedol, and former Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos.
Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo is not included in the charge sheet due to insufficient evidence.
Responding to critics of the charge's "timing," Jimenez said Comelec's decision was not necessarily to coincide with Arroyo's plan to leave for Singapore.
"Sinusunod lang po namin yung tamang proseso," Jimenez added in a television interview.
Based on Republic Act No. 6646, electoral sabotage constitutes altering of votes during an election, tampering numbers on "large scale or in substantial numbers."
It is non-bailable and punishable by life imprisonment.
The Comelec vote came ahead of the Supreme Court's en banc session on the government's motion for reconsideration on an earlier issued temporary restraining order against the watchlist order on Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel.
This development might again prevent the ailing Arroyo from leaving the country.
