Abalos acquitted of poll sabotage

MANILA, Philippines - Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos was acquitted yesterday of two counts of electoral sabotage over alleged cheating in the 2007 elections in North Cotabato.

Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas said the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of Abalos in the second electoral offense filed against him.

“I am very happy. I thank Judge Mupas for his fairness despite our personal differences,” Abalos told reporters after the dispositive portion of the decision was read yesterday.

Abalos’ family members, including Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, and their friends, applauded after the verdict was read.

The Pasay City RTC Branch 117 also cleared Abalos of 11 counts of electoral sabotage last year.

“All the 13 cases of electoral sabotage filed against me have been dismissed,” he said.

In his 15-page question and answer affidavit, Abalos denied ordering the alleged cheating in North Cotabato, adding that it was former election supervisor Yogie Martirizar who admitted the alleged tampering of votes.

Abalos added that it was the Comelec that discovered the discrepancy in the election results in North Cotabato.

He also told the court that his co-accused, a certain Capt. Peter Reyes, was a fictitious name.

‘GMA’s case different’

Outgoing Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. declined to comment on Abalos’ acquittal, but Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they are confident that the decision will not affect a similar case filed against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Jimenez said in a text message that the cases filed against Abalos and Arroyo are not related.

“Different case, different circumstances, different theories of the case. They are very different,” he said.

Jimenez said the electoral sabotage case filed against Arroyo involved the rigging of elections in Maguindanao in 2007.

Arroyo was accused of masterminding the manipulation of results of the elections to ensure the victory of senatorial bets of the administration-backed Team Unity.

Former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former election supervisor Lintang Bedol were Arroyo’s co-accused.

Surprise

Jimenez admitted that Abalos’ acquittal came as a surprise.

“The decision, naturally, was not something we expected because we believe we have presented enough evidences to prove the cases that we set out to prove,” he said.

Jimenez assured the public that the Comelec will study “the text of the decision and determine what further actions can be taken.”

“We remain committed to ferreting out the truth about the allegations of misdeeds in past elections, as a foundation for clean and credible elections in the future,” he said. –With Sheila Crisostomo