Abalos to face more raps

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MANILA – Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. is facing two more complaints involving the alleged cheating North Cotabato.

This is after the former chairman has been cleared of 11 counts of electoral sabotage for the alleged discrepancies during the 2007 election in South Cotabato.

The complainants insisted that the viotes were manipulated to favor the candidiates running under the administration ticket of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Abalos’ camp would be presenting their evidence in the next hearing, according to Felda Domingo, spokesperson of the Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112.

This is following the presentation of the prosecution’s witnesses including Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who claimed to have lost some 45,000 votes in favor of TU senatorial candidate Miguel Zubiri.

Pimentel testified on Aug. 8, as part of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence.

Abalos was implicated in the case by former North Cotabato election officer Yogie Martirizar who became a state witness in the case.

Former North Cotabato election officer Yogie Martirizar, who had turned state witness, implicated Abalos in the case.