The dramatic resignation of Abalos and the unexpected scrapping by the President of the National Broadband Network contract with ZTE Corporation of China are undoubtedly most welcome developments on this apparently sordid controversy. They come as a whiff of fresh air after a series of stinking exposes and shocking revelations.
Admittedly, Abalos’ resignation is a rare and honorable act during these times when the standard reaction of government officials involved in anomalies consist merely of bare denials and a daunting challenge to “prove it”, instead of a graceful exit with heads bowed in remorse like what officials in other countries practice. It came as a surprise especially because he was least expected by many to take such an honorable step in the light of his rather unflattering reputation and his repeated pronouncements that he will not resign.
The cancellation of the ZTE contract also came as a pleasant surprise. After repeated calls for its scrapping fell on deaf ears and even if several exposes of kickbacks, payoffs, sex and death threats have been made, the administration merely took the initial, superfluous step of suspending the deal and appeared bent on complying with its “government to government” commitment despite widespread criticisms.
But these twin developments should not distract or deter the Senate from continuing with its honest to goodness inquiry in aid of legislation, or the Ombudsman in determining the culpability for graft and plunder of persons involve in the anomaly, or the Courts in rendering the corresponding just judgments based on competent evidence. More importantly, the officials and other personalities involved in the shady deal should relentlessly pursue their own plans of actions to vindicate themselves or clear their names or prove their accusations.
Thus ex-Comelec Chairman Abalos, the First Gentleman, and businessman Ricky Razon who have been publicly mentioned and implicated in the controversial transaction should make good their threats to bring their whistle blowers to court and prove that they are really plain and simple liars who should answer for their damaging but allegedly false accusations. They should meet the serious charges against them head on rather than engage in character assassination or diversionary tactics by also ascribing similar anomalies against the whistle blowers. As things stand, the burden is on them to explain and prove the uncompromising situations they have been placed by their own admissions of being present during some “talks” regarding the deal.
Indeed a lot of people believe Abalos when he said that he resigned so that he can rid himself of the heavy burdens of his office as he faces his detractors and confronts them in the proper venue. Hence, these people are eagerly waiting and practically rooting for him to launch his much heralded counter attack and bring his tormentors to court where he can clear his name and vindicate his honor in the most credible, convincing and authoritative way. If he will not pursue this course of action, the cloud of guilt will continue to hang above his head like the sword of Damocles.
On the other hand, Secretary Neri, Joey De Venecia III, Congressman Padilla, Vice Governor Suplico and other accusers claiming that they have concrete and sufficient evidence to prove their accusations, should fully disclose and tell all they personally know, complete with objective proof that they got hold of. Their next moves will reveal their real motives in exposing the alleged filth in this transaction.
For Neri and De Venecia III especially, now is not the time to waver or buckle down or hedge from their firm resolve to tell what really transpired in their presence. If they are really telling the truth, they should stick to their guns, undaunted by all sorts of threats and counter accusations of culpability, allegedly for the same corrupt acts in other anomalous transactions. They should bear in mind that inherently factual and true imputations may even come from the lips of persons who are not necessarily clean as a whistle. So they should sing their song to the very end without changing their tune.
Only the issue of the validity of the contract with ZTE has been rendered moot and academic by the scrapping of the deal. So only the Supreme Court case may be affected by such cancellation. The many other irregularities surrounding the contract particularly the charges aired by the whistle blowers remain unresolved and should therefore be pursued, no longer in the Senate but in the Ombudsman and the Courts. The Senate however may still proceed with their investigation in real aid of legislation. The grandstanding Presidential wannabes among our Senators just have to refrain from further questions that only betray their hidden political agenda including veiled attempts to topple the Malacañang occupant. They should show the people that something good may still come out of their inquiry in the form of legislations that would prevent the occurrence of this shady deal in the awarding of government contracts.
One of the healthy “fallouts” arising from this ZTE controversy is the proliferation of other exposes on rotten government deals involving other government officials. Prominent among these is the alleged use by Speaker De Venecia of the power and influence of his office to grant favor to his son’s businesses. It is quite obvious that the timing of the expose indicates that it is more of a retaliatory act against the moves of the younger De Venecia. It may also be true that the issues raised herein are merely peripheral and unimportant to the resolution of the remaining issues in the defunct ZTE contract. But it should also be investigated as thoroughly and fully as the alleged ZTE bribery and payoffs. The charges therein also merit a full blown inquiry or even Court trial. This is a rare opportunity to authoritatively resolve all these anomalies now sprouting.
My suggestions are indeed highly confrontational and may result in more acrimony and reprisals. But this is the only way to silence all the political noises that will enable us to really move forward towards a better Philippines.
E-mail at: jcson@pldtdsl.net