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The Pasay City judge trying the electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Arroyo spent Wednesday night inside his courtroom, in time for the former leader's arraignment Thursday morning.

 

Pasay Judge Jesus Mupas' vehicle was seen parked at the Regional Trial Court early Thursday, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

 

Security at the city court was tightened before dawn Thursday, with police designating areas for pro- and anti-Arroyo protesters expected to troop to the city.

 

City police chief Senior Superintendent Melchor Reyes said the EDSA Extension area would be for pro-Arroyo groups while the city complex would be for anti-Arroyo groups.

 

Both areas are relatively far from the site of the arraignment—about 200 to 300 meters away, according to the dzBB report.

 

Arroyo was to be brought to Mupas' sala Thursday morning to be arraigned on charges of electoral sabotage.

 

The former leader was placed under hospital arrest Nov. 18 last year, after Mupas issued a warrant for her arrest.

 

Mrs. Arroyo, now a congresswoman representing Pampanga's second legislative district, was transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City last Dec. 9.

 

VMMC security tightened

 

Security was also tight at the VMMC, dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

As of 5 a.m., Quezon City police teams set up advance posts and regular patrols at the gates of the VMMC where Arroyo has been under hospital arrest since December. –KG, GMA News