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Benjamin S. Abalos


Benjamin Abalos Sr resigned as chair of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after an impeachment complaint against was formally filed against him before the House of Representatives. In a senate hearing last week, Romulo Neri, former chief of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), accused Abalos of attempting to bribe him in connection with the NBN-ZTE deal. ISSUES
  • Mega Pacific and ZTE
    Mega Pacific ZTE
    Abalos and the other commissioners traveled to Seoul, South Korea a few months before the bidding for the contract started.

    South Korea was the supplier of the automated counting machines.

    		Abalos admitted to making four trips to China and playing golf there with ZTE officials.

    ZTE got the supply contract for the NBN project.
    Abalos and his head executive assistant, Jaime Paz, were among the respondents in graft and other complaints filed by Senator Pimentel in connection with the Mega Pacific deal. The Ombudsman later absolved all the respondents of all criminal and administrative liabilities for "lack of probable cause." According to Joey De Venecia's affidavit, Jaime Paz attended the former's meetings with Abalos and ZTE officials.

  • ZTE broadband contract controversy

    In August 2007, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla delivered a privilege speech alleging that Abalos brokered for the national broadband network (NBN) project. Padilla claimed that Abalos met with officials of the Chinese firm ZTE Corp., which got the US $329 million contract for the broadband project. Abalos denied brokering for the National Broadband Network project despite admitting he knows some officials in ZTE Corp. He admitted making four trips to China and playing golf there. He also admitted that ZTE officials, whom he says are his golf buddies, hosted and paid for the trips. Jose de Venecia III, son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, alleged that Abalos offered him US$10 million to withdraw his proposal on the NBN project. De Venecia is a majority shareholder of Amsterdam Holdings Inc., a company that submitted an unsolicited proposal on the NBN project. De Venecia also claimed that Abalos asked for money from the ZTE Corp. officials.

  • Hello Garci Abalos was mentioned in the "Hello Garci" tape, which refers to the alleged wiretapped conversations where vote rigging in the 2004 elections was discussed by, among others, a woman presumed to be President Arroyo and man presumed to be Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
  • Mega Pacific Abalos was the Comelec chair when the election body approved a P1.3-billion contract with the Mega Pacific Consortium for the purchase of automated counting machines, which the Supreme Court in January 2004 declared as void because of "clear violation of law and jurisprudence" and "reckless disregard of [Comelec's] own bidding rules and procedure."

    On January 21, 2004, Pimentel filed criminal and administrative charges before the Ombudsman against Abalos and other commissioners in connection with the deal. Abalos described the charges as a "demolition job." Pimentel accused Abalos and the other commissioners of committing an act of impropriety when they and their wives traveled to Seoul, South Korea to visit the plant of the maker of the counting machines a few months before the bidding for the contract started. Pimentel said he received information that the Korean company paid for the plane tickets and hotel accommodations for the trip. However, Abalos claimed that the expenses for the trip were paid for out of the P1 million he won in a golf tournament in Wack Wack. On September 27, 2006, the Ombudsman, in a resolution, absolved all respondents involved in the Mega Pacific controversy of all administrative and criminal liabilities "for lack of probable cause." It also reversed its June 28 resolution which contained factual findings that can be used by the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against Comelec Commissioner Resureccion Borra.
  • Conflict of interest at the Comelec According to PCIJ, Abalos was still in the national directorate of the Lakas-NUCD when he assumed the chairmanship of the Comelec.
  • Abalos' spending spree at the Comelec From PCIJ: "Barely warming his seat as Comelec chair, Benjamin Abalos Sr. went on a spending spree by authorizing a performance incentive pay equivalent to a month's salary for the poll body's 5,200 personnel, which at an average of P10,000 per employee translated to some P52 million. Abalos also approved the purchase of seven new cars - at P1.2 million each - for all the commissioners despite their having been issued two to four vehicles each, including the latest models of Grandias, Chevrolet Ventures, and Stratas. Meetings of the commissioners have also turned classy since Abalos replaced Alfredo Benipayo as the new chairman prefers flashy restaurants, the most frequented of which is Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, in which Abalos has shares."
  • Abalos and the First Family Abalos, a former judge, said that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, a lawyer, used to appear as counsel of litigants in his sala. In 1964, President Arroyo’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, appointed Abalos Manila fiscal, and later, lone municipal judge of Pasig. Abalos said that he and Arroyo had “built a common bond because we are both golfers."

    Abalos said that in March 2002, while he and FG were in Shanghai, Atty. Arroyo asked him: ‘Would you consider if the President would consider you for the position of Comelec chairman?"

    Abalos is the godfather of the son of President Arroyo’s half-sister, Cielo Salgado. Abalos also told the PCIJ that he is “close to Arthur," the president’s brother.
  • Assets and Net Worth
    Year Net worthSalary
    2002P20,030,918257,861 per year
    200323,281,843
    200424,413,313
    200527,993,933516,024 per year
    Source: Benjamin S. Abalos's SALN
    Date of IncorporationCompany
    1988Mandaluyong Teachers, Policemen & Firemen Foundation Inc.
    1990Love Joy Coml. Trading Inc.
    1995Narra Forest Builders Assn. Inc.
    1997Council of Broadcast Commentators (CBC) Foundation Inc.
Source: SEC PERSONAL
  • Date of Birth: September 21, 1935
  • Place of Birth: Pangasinan
  • Father: Ciriaco "Akong" Ruiz Abalos, Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club Club locker room attendant
  • Mother: Eufrocina "Siniang" Santos Abalos, Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club locker room girl
  • Spouse: Corazon de Castro-Abalos
  • Children:
    • Maria Corazon
    • Benjamin Jr., (Benhur)
    • Arnold
    • Jonathan
    • Joy
EDUCATION
  • Elementary, Mandaluyong Elementary School, Mandaluyong City, 1949
  • High School, Jose Rizal College, Mandaluyong City, 1952
  • Law School: Manuel L. Quezon University, Manila, 1957
CAREER

  • Chairman, Commission on Elections (2002-present)

  • Chairman, Metro Manila Development Authority (2001-2002)
  • mayor, Mandaluyong (1988-1997)
  • municipal court judge, Pasig City (1969-1979)
  • auxiliary municipal judge, Makati; acting judge, Pasay City
  • assistant fiscal, Manila /li>
AFFILIATIONS
  • Chairman, Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines
  • President, Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club
AWARDS
  • FAMAS President's Award, 2002
  • Consumer Union of the Philippines' Outstanding Public Servant, 2002
  • Recipient of Presidential Commission of the Urban Poor's Makatao Awards and Bayani ng Maralita Awards, 2000
  • Gintong Ama Awardee, 1999
  • Media Link Group of Young Journalists' Most Outstanding Mayor of Metro Manila, 1994
  • National Manpower and Youth Development Councils' Kabalikat sa Laang Bisig Awardee, 1993
  • Consumer Union of the Philippines' Most Outstanding Municipal Mayor, 1990
  • Media Writer's Association of the Philippines' Most Outstanding Municipal Mayor, 1990
  • University of Sto. Tomas Social Research Center's Most Effective Officer-in-Charge, 1986
  • Most Outstanding Judge of Metro Manila
Sources: GMA New, Senate, Newsbreak
Tags: zte, benjaminabalos, nbn, comelec
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