Pasay City judge cites Abalos, lawyer for contempt of court

PASAY CITY — Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 Presiding Judge Jesus Mupas issued an arrest warrant on Monday against former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and his lawyer Brigido Dulay for contempt charges.
Atty. Joel Felicano, clerk of court of the Pasay City RTC, said the warrant of arrest will be served anytime Monday.

Abalos and Dulay had earlier accused Mupas of allegedly attempting to extort from them, through an emissary, P30 million to P100 million in exchange for a favorable ruling on Abalos’ immediate petitions for bail and house arrest.
Mupas had vehemently denied the accusation and ordered the lawyer and Abalos to show cause why they should not be cited in contempt of court.
Abalos is currently detained at the Southern Police District (SPD) jail in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Abalos is facing electoral sabotage charges before the Pasay RTC Branch 112 in connection with his alleged participation in the manipulation of the results of the May 2007 senatorial elections.
Electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense which carries a penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment which is equivalent to a 40-year jail term.