PNS — FORMER Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos yesterday pleaded not guilty when arraigned on graft charges in connection with the controversial National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Abalos entered the plea at the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division.
He said he is confident that he will be cleared because the evidence linking him to the botched $329-million NBN-ZTE deal is weak.
The former Comelec official denied involvement in the overpriced deal. He also refuted allegations that he offered a P200 million bribe to former socio-economic planning director Romulo Neri in exchange for his approval of the contract.
Neri was also charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan. He was arraigned last July 16 and pleaded not guilty the charges.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against Abalos and Neri due to their alleged participation in the broadband deal with the Chinese Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment.
Both Abalos and Neri posted bail for their temporary liberty. A hold departure order was issued against the two to prevent them from leaving the country without permission from the court.
Among the prosecution’s witnesses are Jun Lozada, Joey de Venecia III, former Rep. Jose de Venecia, columnist Jarius Bondoc and engineer Dante Madriaga.