Abalos Sr. cleared of poll sabotage

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

MANILA, Philippines–Former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos has been absolved of 11 counts of electoral sabotage, according to a report.

According to an ABS-CBN report, Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 117 Judge Eugenio de la Cruz said that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Abalos was guilty.

Abalos was accused of conniving with Cotabato provincial election supervisor Atty. Lilian Suan-Radam to ensure a 12-0 result in favor of Team Unity candidates by tampering with the provincial certificates of canvass, among others.

Although Abalos was acquitted by De la Cruz, he still faces two more counts of electoral sabotage at the Pasay RTC Branch 112 of Judge Jesus Mupas.

This case stemmed from Abalos and his co-accused Yogie Martirizar and Capt. Peter Reyes supposedly rigging the election results in North Cotabato during the 2007 presidential elections.

Jimmy Isidro, spokesman of the Mandaluyong City government and the Abalos family, said they had yet to see a copy of the decision.

“I only saw it in the news,” he said.

The Inquirer tried to reach Abalos for comment but he could not be reached as of press time.

Calls to his son Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos for comment have also remained unanswered.