MANILA, Philippines — Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo entered a not guilty plea to the electoral sabotage charges filed against her by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at her arraignment Thursday at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

In a statement issued shortly after the arraignment, Mrs. Arroyo vowed to answer all the charges against her in the proper forum.

“Despite the continuous and massive vilification campaign against me and my family, I have always said that I will dispute all charges in the proper forum. I am submitting myself to this process not only to clear my name, but also as part of my commitment to respect and abide by the rules and orders of our courts,” her statement read.

“It is my fervent hope that our leaders uphold and our people have faith in the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The arraignment lasted less than 20 minutes because the former president and incumbent Pampanga representative waived the full reading of the charges filed against her. Only the title and basic information were read during the arraignment.

Lawyer Benjamin Santos, the former president’s counsel, then told RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas that Mrs. Arroyo is entering a not guilty plea.

Mrs. Arroyo, who was seated on the second row seat inside the court, also stood and firmly entered a not guilty plea on the charges of electoral sabotage lodged against her.

The pre-trial and preliminary conference on Mrs. Arroyo’s case will be held on April 19.

The former president, who was wearing an off-white long sleeves dress and white neck brace, arrived at the court at about 8:40 a.m. using the Pasay City Hall entrance.

Mrs. Arroyo, who came from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City where she is currently detained, was given tight security by the police from the National Capital Region Police Office, Southern Police District, Quezon City Police District and the Pasay City Police.

The former president was on board a white coaster when she arrived at the Pasay City Hall.

Shortly after she entered a not guilty plea, Mrs. Arroyo was immediately brought back to her convoy that took her back to VMMC.

Mrs. Arroyo's arraignment on charges of electoral sabotage was the first time that she had been arraigned on any crimes imputed against her.

Judge Mupas granted Mrs. Arroyo's petition to be arraigned ahead of her co-accused former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol, who will both be arraigned on March 17.

Security was tight as Mrs. Arroyo travelled from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, where she is currently detained, to the Pasay City Hall.

Mrs. Arroyo arrived aboard a coaster at around 8:30 a.m. for her arraignment. She was accompanied by her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Arroyo, and spokeswoman Elena Bautista-Horn.

Mrs. Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, and her eldest son, Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, arrived at the Pasay City Hall earlier.

After just 30 minutes of court proceedings, Mrs. Arroyo left the Pasay City Hall, as she waved to dozens of supporters gathered outside the city hall.

Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo told the media that the former president is frustrated and that she feels it is an injustice for her to be accused of having ordered the rigging of the 2007 polls in favor of candidates running under the administration party.

The First Gentleman further said that they are also planning to ask the court to allow the former president to have her treatment abroad because she continues to complain of severe back and shoulder pains.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, one of Mrs. Arroyo’s lawyers, for his part said the arraignment is a first step for the former president to prove her innocence on the charges of electoral sabotage.

After the arraignment, the court continued the hearing on the two motions filed by Mrs. Arroyo’s counsel, lawyer Raymond Santos, for a house arrest and to allow her to attend the wake of her brother-in-law, Negros Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo who died in London.

Santos said they asked the court to allow the former president to be beside her husband from Feb. 24 to 26 during the wake of Iggy.

He said they see no objection from the court on their request and expressed hope that it would be granted.

However, the Comelec headed by lawyer Esmeralda Lagra objected to the request of Mrs. Arroyo’s camp that she be allowed to attend the wake of Iggy.

Lagra said they would only agree for Mrs. Arroyo to be allowed to attend the wake if she will only stay there for a few hours only.

When asked how many hours they wanted the former president to be allowed to attend the wake of Iggy, Lagra said they will push for two hours only, citing the need to secure Mrs. Arroyo.

On the defense motion for a house arrest, Lagra said they will still instead push for the transfer of the former president to a regular detention facility.

Meanwhile, Malacañang lauded Thursday the start of the trial of former President Arroyo on charges of electoral sabotage, saying the justice and accountability will now take its course.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda also expressed hope that the trial of Arroyo will be “smooth” and the verdict will be issued within the term of Aquino administration. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)