Abalos cleared of graft in vehicle purchase mess

The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has acquitted former Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. of graft.

The antigraft court dismissed the case since the prosecution failed to prove Abalos’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Abalos’ case stemmed from the allegedly anomalous procurement of two Toyota Revo VX 200 vehicles from Toyota Pasong Tamo Inc. in 2003. Abalos allegedly facilitated the purchase without public bidding.

The decision was promulgated during an online hearing. Abalos said he did not doubt for a second that he would be acquitted. “All these years, I was not nervous at all. I knew that I would be acquitted,” he said. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu