Arroyo must answer fraud charge: Court

Arroyo must answer fraud charge: Court

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine Supreme Court met on Tuesday as a special electoral tribunal and asked President Gloria Arroyo to answer charges of fraud filed by losing rival Fernando Poe.

Popular film star Poe last week asked the court for a recount of the May 10 election results.

He alleged that Arroyo and her backers indulged in "massive and widespread electoral fraud" and manipulated votes cast in more than 118,000 precincts.

Arroyo has said she was prepared to reply to the charges.

The court on Tuesday scrutinized Poe's complaint and ordered Arroyo to file a reply.

"The tribunal resolves to require Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to file her answer within 10 days from notice hereof," a tribunal statement said.

Court spokesman Ismael Khan said the tribunal found Poe's complaint to be sufficient in form and in substance for a likely full-blown hearing. -- AFP