Abalos Sr. appeals court ruling

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. has asked a Pasay court to overturn its decision to turn one of his coaccused in a poll sabotage case into a state witness.

Abalos’ lawyers asked Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 judge Jesus Mupas to reconsider his decision on July 18 to discharge as state witness North Cotabato provincial election supervisor Yogie Martirizar.

Abalos, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol, are facing an electoral sabotage complaint at the Pasay court, for allegedly conspiring to manipulate the results of the 2007 senatorial elections to favor Arroyo’s allies.

The poll sabotage complaint was filed by a joint Comelec and Department of Justice (DoJ) panel.

Formerly coaccused Martirizar, through the DoJ, was able to turn state witness after Mupas found her testimony necessary to the case. She had testified that Abalos personally instructed her to ensure a “12-0” result for Arroyo’s senatorial-candidate allies in Team Unity.

In his motion for reconsideration, Abalos argued Martirizar should not have been discharged because she was one of the most guilty in the case.