Morato pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Manuel Morato on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to four counts of electioneering filed against him by the Commission on Elections.

Morato showed up before Judge Aurora Hernandez-Calledo of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 87 for his arraignment.

The arraignment of the 80-year-old former PSCO chairman was suspended several times after he underwent heart operation.

He is currently under hospital arrest at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City for a separate plunder case filed against him before the Sandiganbayan First Division.

The preliminary conference of his electioneering case is set on April 16.