Pimentel to Comelec: Why no charges vs Abalos yet?

Friday, December 2, 2011
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to file formal charges against its former chairman Benjamin Abalos, and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III wants to know why.
“The Comelec should explain to the people why Abalos remains scot-free and has not been formally charged despite testimonies of witnesses naming him as one of the masterminds of dagdag-bawas (vote shaving and padding) in the 2007 elections,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel, chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and a victim of poll fraud in 2007, said Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes should “expedite” the filing of charges against Abalos, who witnesses said orchestrated cheating in the 2007 elections. “Abalos can deny as he has done so many times that he had anything to do with election fraud during his time, but witnesses are coming forward to say that he was, in fact, on top of the cheating operations,” he said.
Pimentel filed a complaint of electoral sabotage against Abalos, Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo, and others in October.
The Comelec already charged Representative Arroyo, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol at a Pasay City court.
The Comelec has pushed back charging Abalos, saying the case against him has to be amended to include statements from two former provincial election supervisors.
Lilian Radam and Yogie Martirizar have come forward to say Abalos orchestrated cheating to give the Malacanang-backed Team Unity senatorial slate a 12-0 win in Cotabato.
“We are definitely filing (a case) against Chairman Abalos but we have to make certain amendments,” Brillantes said this week.
“Comelec should stop this ‘protect your own’ attitude otherwise the agency will be beyond reforming and saving,” Pimentel said.
The Senator is also chairman of the Select Oversight Committee on Suffrage. He promised electoral reforms when he took his oath of office this year after the Senate Electoral Tribunal declared him the winner in the 2007 elections. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who was proclaimed the winner for the 12th vacant Senate seat in 2007, resigned shortly before the SET ruling.
Pimentel presided over a hearing on alleged poll fraud on Tuesday even though the electoral sabotage case against Arroyo, Ampatuan, and Bedol is already in court.
He had said the hearings are in aid of legislation and is focused on looking for systemic weaknesses in the election system instead of on the filing of cases.
Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, a member of both the electoral reforms and blue ribbon committees, said the probe will help provide a clearer picture of alleged fraud in 2004 and 2007.
“If agencies conducting investigations have sacred cows in their midst and if the Senate’s impartiality is also in question, at the very least the results of simultaneous investigations can be compared,” he said.
He added personalities tagged in the alleged fraud are given opportunities to air their side.
At the hearing earlier this week, Zubiri was allowed to give a statement denying allegations that he had anything to do with fraud in 2007.
Witness Ahmad Mamucao said he had been involved in a vote-switching operation in 2007 and that he picked up blank ballots and election returns from a compound in Bukidnon that may have belonged to Zubiri.
He also said he worked with a man who claimed to be Zubiri’s cousin. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/12/02/pimentel-comelec-why-no-charges-vs-abalos-yet-193723

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com