Abalos pleads not guilty
BENJAMIN S. Abalos, Sr., former election commission chairman, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to graft charges filed against him at the Sandiganbayan over his alleged involvement in the National Broadband Network (NBN) scandal.
Mr. Abalos has been linked to the allegedly overpriced $329-million deal with Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Co. Ltd., or ZTE Corp., that had been forged under the Arroyo administration. The project was canceled.
“I am confident that I will win the case,” Mr. Abalos said in an interview after the arraignment at the anti-graft court’s fifth division.
“Charges against Mr. Abalos came from a disgruntled and disqualified Joey de Venecia. This is a brainless and non-cerebral case. de Venecia has no evidence,” Salvador S. Panelo, lawyer of Mr. Abalos, told reporters.
Jose P. de Venecia III, son of former House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr., was the whistle-blower in the scandal. His company, Amsterdam Holdings, Inc., lost in the bidding for the project.
For his part, Mr. de Venecia said in an interview after the arraignment at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City: "I am looking forward to the conclusion of the case. I am happy with its progress and I am confident that Abalos and [former Socioeconomic Planning secretary Romulo L.] Neri will be imprisoned."
Mr. Neri, who had reviewed the project as socioeconomic planning secretary, pleaded not guilty to the same charges last July 16. In a Senate hearing on Sept. 26, 2007, Mr. Neri testified on a supposed bribe offered by Mr. Abalos to approve the project at the Wack Wack Golf Club in Mandaluyong City.
Mr. Abalos resigned as chairman of the Commission on Elections on Oct. 1, 2007. -- Noemi M Gonzales
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