The Philippines election commission approved fraud charges Friday against former president Gloria Arroyo for alleged large-scale vote tampering.

The commission said the maximum penalty for the crime is life imprisonment.

The justice department has been investigating Ms. Arroyo for alleged vote rigging in the 2004 and 2007 polls. She and her husband are also being investigated for alleged corruption involving government contracts.

Ms. Arroyo and her husband tried to leave the country Tuesday, saying she is seeking medical treatment for a bone ailment. They were stopped at the Manila airport and prevented from leaving because of the ongoing investigations.