Abalos must prove alleged extortion by judge—Palace aide

Former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang won’t ask the Department of Justice to look into the allegations by former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos that emissaries of Pasay City regional trial court Judge Jesus Mupas had tried to extort more than P100 million from him.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it was up to the Abalos to prove his claims before the trial court.

“That would have to be proved in the trial court. It was the Abalos camp who alleged [that] in support of their motion, then they have to be able to prove it,” Valte said over the state-run radio station dzRB.

Abalos alleged the extortion try in his motion for Mupas to inhibit himself from the electoral sabotage case the Comelec filed against its former chairperson.

Mupas has threatened Abalos and his lawyer with contempt as a result of the allegations and directed them to explain why they should not be punished.

Mupas is the same judge handling the electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.