Abalos allowed to travel to Taiwan

Former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–There is no more obstacle to former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos’ plans to travel to Taiwan to buy bangus (milkfish) fry.

The Pasay City regional trial court Branch 117 granted Abalos’ motion for reconsideration.

The court, through Pasay City RTC Judge Eugenio Dela Cruz, required Abalos to post P10,000 for every electoral sabotage case filed against him or for a total of P110,000 for 11 counts.

The court also requires Abalos to personally appear before it upon his arrival.

The Sandiganbayan where he is facing a graft case and the Pasay RTC Branch 112  where he is facing another batch of electoral sabotage cases allowed Abalos to go out of the country provided he would post a travel bond, submit his itinerary, among others.

Abalos is engaged in aqua culture business. He said  “recent developments in aquaculture industry, particularly the steady decline in the demand for shrimps coupled with the increasing complexity of prescribed shrimp culture practices and technology, has constrained the accused to shift the focus of his business from shrimp culture to the raising of bangus, if only to assure its continued viability. Considering, however, the scarcity of bangus fry in the country, the accused is compelled to urgently source bangus fry in Taiwan.”