Anti-graft court issues arrest warrant against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband Mike

Manila: The Philippine government's anti-graft court issued on Tuesday warrants of arrest against former President Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike for the alleged accepting bribe in cash from a private Chinese firm that was assigned by the Chinese government to undertake the latter's overseas development assistance worth $327 million for a broadband project in the Philippines, which was signed by the two countries in 2007.

Arrest warrants were also issued by the Sandiganbayan to former Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

All the accused posted bail at the Sandiganbayan, said Topacio.

Earlier, lawyers of Arroyo and her co-accused filed a motion saying the arrest warrants have no basis since Arroyo had rescinded the project in 2008, following complaints and investigations at the Senate.

Last week, the Ombudsman elevated the complaints belatedly filed again against Arroyo and company, to the Sandiganbayan.

In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that complaints about the project's constitutionality were moot and academic since the project was cancelled by Arroyo.