Judge junks Gloria Arroyo bid to recall arrest warrant over electoral sabotage raps

A Pasay City judge on Wednesday junked separate bids by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos regaridng the electoral sabotage charges filed against them. Pasay Judge Jesus Mupas junked the Arroyo camp's bid to recall the warrant issued for her arrest last year. At the same time, Mupas rejected a separate bid by Abalos for Mupas to inhibit himself from the case, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported. City sheriff Rodelio Buenviaje said he was to personally serve the orders to Mrs. Arroyo and Abalos, who are separately detained. Last November, Mupas ordered Mrs. Arroyo's arrest over charges of electoral sabotage. He also ordered her transferred from the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. Mupas also issued an arrest order for Abalos over electoral sabotage. Abalos surrendered to authorities and is now detained at the Southern Police District headquarters. The former Comelec chief had claimed lawyers affiliated with Mupas had tried to "extort" money from him in exchange for a favorable ruling. Mupas denied the allegation. — LBG, GMA News