Former Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has been arrested on charges of election fraud.
Mrs Arroyo was arrested on her hospital bed in the capital Manila. She is accused of cheating to win a seat in the Senate for one of her supporters during the 2007 election.
Mrs Arroyo is fighting a legal battle to be allowed to leave the country to receive medical treatment. She says she has a rare bone disease and needs specialist treatment.
Twice this week the Supreme Court, which is dominated by her appointees, has ruled in her favour.
But twice the government has foiled her attempts to leave the country.
She denies any wrongdoing and her lawyer says the charges are fabricated.
The BBC reports an arrest warrant was issued after the Election Commission filed charges against her.
Court officials insisted she could not leave the country now that the warrant had been issued.
