Former president and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga province will be arraigned today at the Sandiganbayan after her doctors said that she can attend the court proceeding despite her medical condition.

Mrs. Arroyo was charged with plunder for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds. She is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). The director of the hospital, Dr. Nona Legaspi, had earlier promised that the former leader will be brought to the anti-graft court for her arraignment.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has tightened security at the Sandiganbayan for today’s proceedings.

Police personnel will line the route from the VMMC to the anti-graft court, while members of the PNP Police Security and Protection Group will provide close-in security for Arroyo, who is running for re-election in Pampanga’s second district.

Palace deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said on Sunday that the Malacañang will monitor the proceedings.

“The PNP will be on hand to make sure that everything will go well. If there will be protests, the PNP will be there to to keep the peace,” she added.

The Pampanga lawmaker has been under hospital arrest at the VMMC since October 4, when police served an arrest warrant issued by the anti-graft court against her for plunder.

Mrs. Arroyo’s lawyers failed to get a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court that would have stopped her arraignment.

Meanwhile, former PCSO chairman Manuel Morato, who is also implicated in the misuse of the PCSO funds, asked to have his arraignment postponed because he had just had surgery.

WITH A REPORT FROM CATHERINE S. VALENTE