Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Legaspi: Resigned or assigned? By Carlos Legaspi Jr.
Commission on Elections Chief Benjamin Abalos resigns from his post due to the sensational $329 million deal with the devil. Palace was surprised with the decision of the Comelec czar. The resignation came about as GMA is out of the country to attend to her escapades abroad.
Abalos’s resignation could be seen either as admission of guilt or evasion of reality.
Many pro-administration people see the resignation otherwise.
A sector of the community speculated that Abalos’s resignation is the saving grace for the First gentleman.
Still a small group believes that the resignation is a sign that Abalos would like to save the face of Comelec.
Anyway, I view the resignation as a cover-up for the first family.
Abalos's resignation has clouded over the real issue of FG's involvement in the ZTE scam. Others call Abalos as the "fall guy" in this impeachable issue against the Arroyo administration.
The Comelec chair, in his press conference, clarified that his resignation does not signify his acceptance of guilt in the accusations of Joey De Venecia III against him.
He stressed his act would give him more space to file charges against people who have destroyed him and he is doing the act to save the Commission.
His statements were really commendable and could even shed the tears of some emotional supporters.
However, I view it the other way around. I would like to toy with the idea that he is now really in hot waters and could really pull down many names in the administration for participating in many illegal and immoral dealings with the Arroyo administration.
I also would like to view that Malacañang has a hand in his resignation. He might have been requested by the close allies of the President to save Arroyo from really going down in history as another plunderer and corrupt leader.
One convicted leader is too much.
On the other hand, I would also like to see that the presence of Corazon Aquino in the Abalos's residence is an indication that the Abalos and the Arroyos may now be at odds.
Cory was the saving grace of Abalos to be accused as a "fall guy" of the administration.
So, I am dismissing a useless thought of Abalos as a "fall guy."
I would like to really go with my primary thought. The Comelec squabble will put to rest the controversial issue of the ZTE and FG. First Gentleman Mike "back off" Arroyo has a lot to thank Abalos.
Pep talks and discussions will surely shift from current problems to the main reason for the resignation. This is what we call in the past as smoke screening. It will surely blur the vision of every Filipino. Smoke screening has been a practice of this administration and was very successful in retaining the little girl in the palace.
On the brighter side, I hope that the resignation of Mr. Abalos would now pave the way for other more corrupt officials to come down or voluntarily resign form their posts.
I am very much sure that many of the administrations officials are doing and gaining more than the alleged accusations against Mr. Abalos. I agree with our dear bishops in thanking Mr. Abalos for heeding the call to clean the society of graft and corruption. The act is really commendable to voluntarily resign and wait for the verdict. My only prayer is that this act must not be an assignment to him to save the image of the Arroyos.
(For comments and reactions, email me at ecaloy1@yahoo.com.)
