Court OKs Abalos Taiwan travel to buy bangus fingerlings

MANILA, Philippines - Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 granted yesterday the motion of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. to travel to Taiwan to buy live bangus fingerling for his fishpond business.

Felda Domingo, Pasay RTC branch 112 spokesperson, said the travel permit will be effective from Nov. 27 to 30 provided that Abalos will put up a P200,000 travel bond.

Abalos is facing electoral sabotage charges at the court of Judge Mupas for alleged fraud during the 2007 elections in North Cotabato.

He is also facing a separate electoral sabotage case before Judge Eugenio de la Cruz of Branch 117 in connection with the alleged cheating during the 2007 elections in South Cotabato.

Abalos attended a hearing for another motion to travel to Taiwan at the Pasay RTC branch 117.

Judge De la Cruz has already submitted the motion for resolution after the prosecution submitted their positions.

“I have to wait for the decision of Judge De la Cruz before I can travel,” said Abalos.

De la Cruz had earlier granted Abalos P2-million bail after the prosecution failed to present a vital witness in the case, while Mupas also granted P1-million bail to the accused after the prosecution failed to present their case with clarity.

Abalos said after getting copies of the travel grant from various courts hearing his cases, he would coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for his passport, which was covered by the hold departure orders by the courts.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan also granted the motion of Abalos to travel to Taiwan after he put up P90,000 travel bond.

The former Comelec chairman explained that he wants to see for himself the possible sources of fingerlings and fish feeds to be able to make the decision himself.

The anti-graft court also ordered Abalos to post a bail bond of P180,000 and comply with all the usual requirements, including reporting to the anti-graft court after he returns to the country.

He is facing graft charges for his alleged involvement in the national broadband network (NBN) deal anomaly before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division.

The former elections chief’s request for a travel permit was initially rejected for lack of importance and specific details like an itinerary and specifics on where he intends to stay in Taiwan. – With Michael Punongbayan