Ipinababasura ni dating Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., ang kasong isinampa sa kanya sa Sandiganbayan Fourth Division kaugnay ng National Broadband Network deal ng gobyerno sa ZTE Corp.
Sa inihaing Demurrer to Evidence, sinabi ni Abalos na malinaw na walang naipresintang matibay na ebidensya ang prosekusyon laban sa kanya at kanyang mga kapwa akusado na sina dating Pangulo at ngayon ay Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo at mister nitong si dating First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
“Accused respectfully submits that the prosecution has failed to charge that burden, much less prove the guilty of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” saad ng inihain ni Abalos.
Ang kaso ay nag-ugat sa pagsasabwatan umano ng mga akusado sa pagpasok ng kontrata sa ZTE Corp noong 2007.
Sinabi ni Abalos na mali ang prosekusyon na naging disadvantageous sa gobyerno ang NBN-ZTE contract dahil hindi naman natuloy ang proyekto.
“This Contract, however, was never properly presented and admitted in evidence at the trial of this case. Of the numerous witnesses presented by the prosecution, none of them, not one testified on the existence of the Contract and the fact of its execution and the circumstances that led to and attended its execution.”
Si Abalos ay inakusahan na naglakad umano ng kontrata upang aprubahan ito ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno.
“Wherefore, herein accused prays that this case be dismissed on demurrer to evidence and all the accused therein be acquitted of the charges hereunder.”
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