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<figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1474989" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos from his graft charge over the NBN-ZTE deal.</p><p>The anti-graft court Fourth Division said there is no strong evidence showing that Abalos brokered the national broadband network (NBN) project with China in exchange for a commission.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Ex-Comelec Chair Abalos Sr., hahatulan ng Sandiganbayan sa kasong graft kaugnay sa NBN-ZTE deal | via <a href="https://twitter.com/Dennis_Datu">@Dennis_Datu</a> <a href="https://t.co/LAzlnUnDhT">pic.twitter.com/LAzlnUnDhT</a></p>— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/DZMMTeleRadyo/status/730192709193850881">May 11, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" src="~//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Prosecutors had alleged that Abalos introduced China’s ZTE Corp. officials to then Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, and received &quot;acts of generosity and hospitality&quot; from a corporation that eventually bagged a $329-million contract with the government.</p><p>The graft case stemmed from allegations by whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr., who served as technical adviser on the project.</p><p>Lozada accused Abalos of wanting to secure $130 million as commission for the project.</p><p>The whistleblower also said the $329-million contract was overpriced by $67 million, based on the $262 million evaluation he made.</p><p>Co-accused in the case is former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, who allegedly <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/12/29/11/arroyos-nbn-zte-graft-case-be-raffled-jan-2" target="_blank">approved the deal</a> despite knowing its irregularities.</p><p>Arroyo was also accused of having lunch and playing golf with ZTE officials while their proposal was still being assessed by government.</p><p>READ: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/02/03/11/gma-abalos-jdv-were-waiting-nbn-zte-commissions" target="_blank"><strong>&#x27;GMA, Abalos, JDV were waiting for NBN-ZTE commissions&#x27;</strong></a></p><p>The former president later dropped the project which would have connected all government agencies through a broadband network. -- <strong>With a report from Dennis Datu, dzMM</strong></p>

<p>MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos from his graft charge over the NBN-ZTE deal.</p>

MANILA - The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos from his graft charge over the NBN-ZTE deal.

Abalos not guilty of graft in NBN-ZTE deal

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Abalos not guilty of graft in NBN-ZTE deal

ABS-CBN News

Published May 11, 2016 11:06 AM PHT

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Updated Oct 03, 2016 11:50 AM PHT

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DZMM

nbn-zte deal

graft

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sandiganbayan

benjamin abalos

Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

Romulo Neri

CGMA

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