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Philippines ex-election chief on vote fraud charge
Source: Agencies |
December 14, 2011, Wednesday
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POLICE arrested the Philippines' former elections chairman yesterday on charges he aided the vote fraud allegedly ordered by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Former Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos surrendered to a Manila regional trial court in suburban Pasay city and was placed under arrest, police Superintendent Samuel Turla said. He is being held in a police detention facility in the capital, unlike Arroyo, who is under arrest in a government hospital.
Abalos said he surrendered to underscore his innocence to charges that he played a role in rigging 2007 senatorial elections to ensure the victory of Arroyo's candidates in a Muslim autonomous region then governed by her political ally.
President Benigno Aquino III succeeded Arroyo last year after a landslide election victory due in part to his promise to fight corruption and crushing poverty. He has blamed Arroyo for a decade of scandals that eroded public trust in government and held back foreign investment.
Arroyo, 64, has denied any wrongdoing and accused her successor of using "black propaganda." She was arrested last month.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who arrived in Manila yesterday for talks, said that by strongly dealing with past cases of corruption, countries such as the Philippines would discourage graft.
"You can only deter future possible acts of corruption if you're seen to be robust in dealing with the past," Natalegawa said.
On Monday, Aquino's allies in the House of Representatives impeached Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on eight complaints of alleged corruption and that the court he led favored Arroyo. She appointed him as chief justice.
Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez called Corona's impeachment "an assault on the rights, power and privilege of the judiciary."
Former Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos surrendered to a Manila regional trial court in suburban Pasay city and was placed under arrest, police Superintendent Samuel Turla said. He is being held in a police detention facility in the capital, unlike Arroyo, who is under arrest in a government hospital.
Abalos said he surrendered to underscore his innocence to charges that he played a role in rigging 2007 senatorial elections to ensure the victory of Arroyo's candidates in a Muslim autonomous region then governed by her political ally.
President Benigno Aquino III succeeded Arroyo last year after a landslide election victory due in part to his promise to fight corruption and crushing poverty. He has blamed Arroyo for a decade of scandals that eroded public trust in government and held back foreign investment.
Arroyo, 64, has denied any wrongdoing and accused her successor of using "black propaganda." She was arrested last month.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who arrived in Manila yesterday for talks, said that by strongly dealing with past cases of corruption, countries such as the Philippines would discourage graft.
"You can only deter future possible acts of corruption if you're seen to be robust in dealing with the past," Natalegawa said.
On Monday, Aquino's allies in the House of Representatives impeached Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on eight complaints of alleged corruption and that the court he led favored Arroyo. She appointed him as chief justice.
Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez called Corona's impeachment "an assault on the rights, power and privilege of the judiciary."
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