Abalos must prove extort try–Palace

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang won’t ask the Department of Justice to look into the allegations of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos that emissaries of Pasay City Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas had tried to extort P100 million from him.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said it would be up to Abalos to prove his claim before the trial court.

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

Abalos revealed the alleged extortion attempt in his motion asking that Mupas inhibit himself from the electoral sabotage case filed by the Comelec against him, its former chair.

Valte, nonetheless, said the administration would be watching developments regarding Abalos’ accusation against Mupas.

“Let’s first see what happens in the proceedings before the court,” Valte said.

Abalos on Friday accused Mupas of sending at least two emissaries to ask for money in exchange for favorable rulings.

One of the emissaries allegedly asked Abalos to cough up P50 million for him to be allowed to post bail and another P50 million for him to be cleared of the raps.

Abalos named the emissaries as lawyers May Mercado and Jojo Desiderio. Mupas has denied knowing either.

Mupas has threatened Abalos and his lawyer with contempt as a result of the allegations.

The Pasay City magistrate is the same judge handling the electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Abalos is facing two counts of electoral sabotage in Mupas’ court.

The charges are in connection with allegations that the Comelec chair was part of a conspiracy to rig the 2007 senatorial elections in favor of the Arroyo administration’s candidates.

Aside from the motion for the judge to inhibit himself from hearing the case, Abalos, who is 77 years old, also asked the court to grant him house arrest.

He also has a pending motion to be allowed to post bail.