Abalos asks court to let him travel to Taiwan

Former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Two months after gaining temporary liberty, former elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos wants to travel to Taiwan to meet prospective suppliers for his aquaculture business.

Abalos, who is out on bail for two election sabotage cases, has asked the Pasay regional trial court (RTC) to temporarily lift the hold departure order against him and allow him to travel outside the country for four days next month.

The election sabotage charges were filed last year at two branches of the Pasay RTC by the Commission on Elections against Abalos,  former President Gloria Arroyo, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and former Maguindanao provincial election supervisor Lintang Bedol. They were accused of allegedly conspiring to manipulate the results of the 2007 senatorial elections in North Cotabato and South Cotabato in favor of Arroyo’s candidates.

“I have a dark skin because I directly supervise my business. I have to personally meet the suppliers in Taiwan to save (the aquaculture production) and help my workers keep their jobs,” he told reporters following a hearing on his motion to travel before Judge Eugenio de la Cruz on Tuesday.

Abalos has been granted bail by De la Cruz and Judge Jesus Mupas, the two judges handling the electoral sabotage cases, on the ground that the evidence against him was not strong.