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Warrant of arrest issued vs ex-Comelec chairman Abalos


(Updated 3:37 p.m.) The Pasay Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued a warrant of arrest against former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos for electoral sabotage.
 
According to the office of Pasay RTC’s Branch 112, the warrant was issued at around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
 
In a phone interview with GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali,” Branch 112 legal researcher Celda Domingo said the warrant is already with police officials who are on their way to serve it.
 
Domingo disclosed that the next step will be bringing Abalos to a detention cell, but she added: “Walang ipinag-utos ang korte kung saan siya dadalhin.
 
Meanwhile, Connie Sison, GMA News TV reporter, tweeted: "Abalos says he is ready to be detained. He is now on his way to Pasay RTC to surrender."  "No need to arrest me"
 
In an interview with “Balingtanghali” anchor Pia Arcangel on Tuesday, Abalos, who said he was already at the court, maintained that he will surrender.
 
“Hindi na kami kailangang arestuhin,” he said in a phone interview, but expressed sadness over news of his arrest because of his family.
 
“I can bear anything physically, pero naaawa ako sa pamilya ko. Si misis, iyak nang iyak. Hindi ko na dinaanan sa bahay,” he said. True to his words, Abalos turned himself in to the court shortly after the issuance of the warrant of arrest, according to a report on radio dzBB. The report said Abalos showed up past 11 a.m. and may be detained at the Southern Police District headquarters. A separate report by GMA News reporter Saleema Refran on GMA News TV's "On Call" on Tuesday afternoon said Abalos underwent booking procedures at the Investigation Division of Pasay Police Station after he turned himself in. The report quoted Abalos' lawyer, Brigido Dulay, as saying that they would file a very urgent motion for the application for bail.
Abalos has denied involvement in the alleged rigging of the 2007 midterm elections in Maguindanao province. Abalos was appointed Comelec chairman in 2002 by Mrs. Arroyo. He resigned in October 2007 after he was linked to a multimillion dollar corruption issue involving a national broadband project by the government with a Chinese firm. In October this year, a government task  force recommended that several personalities linked to alleged 2007 poll fraud be subjected to preliminary investigation. Aside from Abalos, among those recommended for investigation were:
  • former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and
  • former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., among others.
Mrs. Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City. She was transferred there on December 9 from the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig where she was arrested on November 18, the same day that the Comelec filed an electoral sabotage case against her. Mrs. Arroyo has been confined at SLMC since November 15 for a bone problem. She recently underwent three major surgeries. -  VVP/RSJ/KBK, GMA News
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