Abalos rushed to hospital

Commission on Elections chief Benjamin Abalos was taken to hospital last night after he passed out at the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, Manila due to what he later claimed was stress-related hypertension.

Abalos quickly regained consciousness and underwent checkup at the Manila Medical Center in Ermita. He told reporters he was not in danger and there was nothing to worry about. Hospital staff said Abalos was brought in at about 7 p.m.

"The elections will proceed as scheduled on May 10," he told reporters while undergoing a checkup at the emergency ward.

Abalos had just arrived from the Supreme Court to defend the Comelec’s plan to have the poll results transmitted from the provinces by satellite to its main Manila office.

Opposition parties, which accuse the Arroyo administration of plotting to cheat in the elections, oppose the Comelec satellite system, saying it was not safe from manipulation. — Jose Aravilla