Ex-Philippine leader pleads not guilty to plunder
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2012 file photo, former Philippine President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives at a Pasay City Court for her arraignment on electoral fraud charges in Manila. The Philippine anti-graft court on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, ordered the arrest of Arroyo in the third corruption investigation against her, this one accused her of misusing $8.8 million in state lottery funds during her last years in office. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, Pool, File)
MANILA, Philippines >> A Philippine court has entered a not-guilty plea for former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on charges she misused $8.8 million in state lottery funds in a third corruption case against her.
Arroyo is suffering from a neck ailment and police brought her to the anti-graft court Monday from a military hospital. She was admitted days before the court served the arrest warrant against her on plunder charges early this month and ordered her confined under guard.
She refused to enter a plea and prompted the judge to record not guilty on her behalf. If found guilty, she could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Arroyo finished her nine-year term in 2010. She is separately charged with vote fraud and in another corruption case.
