The chief of the Philippines' Commission on Elections (Comelec) has resigned after being accused of trying to bribe another government official in order to win approval for a 330-million-US dollar broadband contract.
But Benjamin Abalos maintained his innocence and insisted that his decision to resign as Comelec chairman was intended to spare the poll body from further controversy over the deal.
'I am not admitting guilt for any wrongdoing. Neither am I giving up on my crusade to clear my name and reputation,' he said in a statement on Monday.
Last week, former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri said he was offered a bribe to help state-owned Chinese firm ZTE Corp win a broadband contract with the Philippine government.
Neri told a special Senate hearing into the scandal that Abalos had offered him the bribe.
The husband of Gloria Arroyo, president of the Philippines, has also been dragged into the controversy.
Abalos is considered an ally of the President, who has suspended the project.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said 'we respect his decision and appreciate his desire to protect his family and the Comelec from vicious politics.'
'We wish him well as he carries on his fight to clear his name,' Bunye said in a statement.
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Philippine president visits China amid bribery scandal surrounding broadband contract
The Philippine president left for a two-day visit to China Tuesday to boost trade and political ties amid a high-profile bribery scandal that led to the suspension of a broadband contract with a Chinese company.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo departed for Shanghai, where she was scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, address the Shanghai Overseas Chamber of Commerce and attend the opening of the Special Olympics, local media reported.
The visit comes a day after the resignation of the Philippine elections chief, who was accused in Senate hearings of brokering a US$330 million (€235 million) contract with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corp. and trying to bribe a Cabinet official and a Filipino businessman to clear the deal.
Benjamin Abalos denied the allegations against him, but the Supreme Court and later Arroyo have suspended the contract for a government broadband network.
Philippine officials and ZTE have said the scandal will not affect deepening trade ties between China and the Philippines.
Liang Wentao, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Manila, told reporters earlier that corruption allegations connected to the deal "are pure domestic issues of the Philippines."
The contract was signed during Arroyo's visit to Beijing in April.
After China, Arroyo was scheduled to arrive in India for a two-day visit.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo departed for Shanghai, where she was scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, address the Shanghai Overseas Chamber of Commerce and attend the opening of the Special Olympics, local media reported.
The visit comes a day after the resignation of the Philippine elections chief, who was accused in Senate hearings of brokering a US$330 million (€235 million) contract with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corp. and trying to bribe a Cabinet official and a Filipino businessman to clear the deal.
Benjamin Abalos denied the allegations against him, but the Supreme Court and later Arroyo have suspended the contract for a government broadband network.
Philippine officials and ZTE have said the scandal will not affect deepening trade ties between China and the Philippines.
Liang Wentao, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Manila, told reporters earlier that corruption allegations connected to the deal "are pure domestic issues of the Philippines."
The contract was signed during Arroyo's visit to Beijing in April.
After China, Arroyo was scheduled to arrive in India for a two-day visit.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Philippines poll official on fraud charge
Philippines police say they have arrested a senior election official at the centre of an alleged massive vote fraud in the south of the country.
The arrest follows a call by the Elections Commission for Lintang Bedol to be arrested after he failed to answer a summons to produce election documents which he claimed had disappeared from his office.
Mr Bedol was supervising provincial elections in the southern province of Maguindanao, where independent poll observers alleged massive cheating took place in mid-term elections on May 14.
Witnesses also said votes were rigged to favour pro-government candidates.
The arrest follows a call by the Elections Commission for Lintang Bedol to be arrested after he failed to answer a summons to produce election documents which he claimed had disappeared from his office.
Mr Bedol was supervising provincial elections in the southern province of Maguindanao, where independent poll observers alleged massive cheating took place in mid-term elections on May 14.
Witnesses also said votes were rigged to favour pro-government candidates.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Philippines election violence on rise
Election-related violence continues to rise in the Philippines, just over a month before congressional and local elections.
Authorities say four poll-related incidents, including a bomb attack, have occurred in the last week.
The Philippine National Police have reported 46 poll-related violent incidents in the country since January, when campaigning started for the May elections.
A bomb attack occurred in Lanao del Norte province in the south on Easter Sunday, where seven people were injured, mostly supporters of the province's Governor.
Two people were killed in another poll-related incident in the northern province of Isabela, also on Easter Sunday.The fatalities included a relative of a mayoral candidate.
A candidate for governor in the north and a local election officer in the western province of Palawan were shot and killed in separate incidents during the week.
Authorities say four poll-related incidents, including a bomb attack, have occurred in the last week.
The Philippine National Police have reported 46 poll-related violent incidents in the country since January, when campaigning started for the May elections.
A bomb attack occurred in Lanao del Norte province in the south on Easter Sunday, where seven people were injured, mostly supporters of the province's Governor.
Two people were killed in another poll-related incident in the northern province of Isabela, also on Easter Sunday.The fatalities included a relative of a mayoral candidate.
A candidate for governor in the north and a local election officer in the western province of Palawan were shot and killed in separate incidents during the week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
