Abalos heads to court over poll sabotage charges
MANILA, Philippines – Former poll chief Benjamin Abalos headed to a Pasay City Regional Trial Court hours after the announcement of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that it will be filing poll sabotage charges against him.
The beleaguered former chief of the Comelec reiterated that he is willing to surrender himself to the authorities once an arrest warrant will be issued against him.
In a radio interview, Abalos’ son, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said he will yield his father to the authorities and “will not run away from justice”.
The reaction of the Abalos family came after Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the poll body is now readying election sabotage charges against the former poll chief.
In an interview with reporters, Brillantes said the Comelec will file the case “as soon as the proper documentations will be completed”.
This after the Comelec en banc, in a 6-0 votes, favored the filing of election violations against Abalos for conspiracy in rigging the results of the 2007 elections.
If not today, the Comelec will file the case either tomorrow (Friday) or Monday in a Regional Trial Court in Pasay City. The case is a non-bailable offense, the same charge that were filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Also facing the same charges were South Cotabato Comelec provincial director Lilian Suan-Radam, former North Cotabato provincial election supervisor Yogie Martirizar, and former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) officer Capt. Peter Reyes.
It was Radam and Martirizar who earlier revealed that it was Abalos who gave specific orders to deliver a 12-0 result in the senatorial race in 2007 in favor of the administration bets of then President Arroyo.
After the filing of the case, Brillantes said he expected for the lower court to issue a warrant of arrest against Abalos.
Meantime, in a radio report, Abalos said he is willing to face the charges against him saying, "Tayo ay pasasakop sa batas, wala tayong planong tumakbo." -- Jlyne Ubiña
- Latest
- Trending
