De Lima confirms poll supervisors to testify vs Abalos

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday confirmed reports that the government was keen on utilizing two former election officials as state witnesses against former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos as claimed by his son, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos.

Speaking with reporters, De Lima said the testimonies of former poll supervisors Susan Radam and Yogi Martirizar were “very crucial and imperative” in beefing up the electoral sabotage case against the elder Abalos for allegedly rigging the 2007 elections in Mindanao.

But she denied Mayor Abalos’ claims that the move was intended to persecute Abalos, a known ally of detained former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and block his father’s attempt to post bail.

“Their allegations against former (Comelec) chair Abalos are very serious and they’re really pointing to him (as the mastermind),” De Lima said.

“So it is the position of the DOJ (Department of Justice) that they are qualified. They can be considered as state witnesses,” she said.

The justice secretary also played down Mayor Abalos’ argument that only the “least guilty” among the accused should be considered as state witness.

“Maybe they should read again the Rules of Court,” she said. “The Rules of Court did not say that those that can be discharged as state witnesses are those that are considered least guilty. The exact wordings… is ‘does not appear to be the most guilty.”

De Lima added, “You may not be the least guilty, but for as long as you are not the most guilty, you’re still qualified as state witness.”

In a hastily called news conference on Tuesday, the younger Abalos said the Comelec’s  plan to use Radam and Martirizar as government witness was “the height of injustice, cruelty and abuse of power.”

“This is hard for us…. My father is already 80 years old and his health is deteriorating. All we want is for him to be allowed to post bail,” the mayor said. “What is certain is that the case against my father is crumbling right now and they will move heaven and earth just so my father will be persecuted.”