Abalos resigns post amid ZTE mess, says he will face critics

(Updated 3:50 p.m.) Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos on Monday announced that he is resigning from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) amid allegations that he offered millions of pesos in bribes for the passage of the $329.4-million national broadband network (NBN) contract with China's ZTE Corp. Abalos made the announcement in front of his supporters in a press conference at his home on Kanlaon Street, Mandaluyong City. "Hindi pa po tapos ang laban. Muli kong ipagpapatuloy and laban upang linisin ang aking pangalan (The fight is not yet over. I will again continue my fight to clear my name)," said Abalos, who insisted that he is ready to face his detractors before any court. He added that, "My resignation will negate the accusations that the administration is out to protect me and my incumbency." "I am not admitting guilt on any wrongdoing," he said, reading from a prepared statement. He was flanked by his wife, son Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos and family members. He added that, "As I bow out of public service, I find comfort in the thought that at the end of even the longest of nights, the dawn will break." Former President Corazon Aquino visited Abalos as a show of support to her ally especially during coup d'etat attempts against her presidency. She did not say, however, whether or not she believed Abalos was innocent. Hours earlier, two congressmen in the House of Representatives signed an impeachment complaint against Abalos. House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said that with Abalos's resignation, the impeachment bid has become "moot." For his part, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez on Monday said Abalos wanted to spare the commission from the toll of the impeachment process. "He wants to separate himself from the office so the commission would not be affected. He knows it (impeachment) will take toll in the nation," Jimenez told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. He said Abalos told him about his decision to resign Sunday night. Jimenez said Commissioner Resurreccion Borra, being the most senior member of Comelec, will take on Abalos' position. "He (Borra) will not be an acting chairman, that's not allowed. He will be an OIC (officer in charge). The Commission will take orders from him," he said. Abalos has been accused of intervening in behalf of China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. which was awarded the $329.48-million contract for the implementation of the national broadband network project. In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Malacañang wished Abalos well and said the Arroyo administration recognizes the former election official's reasons for resigning. "We respect his decision and appreciate his desire to protect his family and the Commission on Elections from vicious politics. We wish him well as he carries on his fight to clear his name," Bunye said. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Abalos was a victim of a "smear campaign" even as the former congratulated the elections official for making the decision to resign. Puno said maybe Abalos sacrificed himself to ensure the orderly conduct of the barangay-sangguniang kabataan (village-youth council) elections on October 29. - with a report from Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV