Ailing Morato’s arraignment reset

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Manuel Morato’s arraignment on electioneering charges was reset to April 2 after his doctor said yesterday that he is suffering from hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Cardiologist Maria Adelaida Iboleon-Dy told Judge Aurora Hernandez-Calledo of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 87 that Morato, 80, still has to recover from his illness before he will be allowed to leave St. Luke’s Medical Center for his arraignment.

Morato is facing four counts of electioneering charges filed by the Commission on Elections. He is accused of using his public affairs program “Dial M” on NBN-4 and IBC-13 in 2010 to campaign for then presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro and his running mate, actor Edu Manzano.

He is under hospital arrest for plunder charges filed before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million in PCSO funds.