Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Nalzaro: Abalos’ resignation By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
I WAS one of those who criticized then Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos for allegedly offering bribes in favor of China’s ZTE Corp. in the controversial National Broadband Network deal.
My view, like those of others, on Abalos’ role in the transaction may have been too judgmental. But I am morally convinced about his links to the aborted multi-million dollar deal.
Consider this: In the Senate probe, Abalos admitted that Manila-based ZTE officials are his friends and golf buddies. He talked about ZTE’s proposal with Finance Secretary Gary Teves, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and then Neda director general Romulo Neri.
Neri, whose office reviewed the project and recommend the project proposal, accused Abalos of attempting to bribe him. House Speaker Jose de Venecia’s son, Joey de Venecia III, whose firm lost in the bidding, accused Abalos of bribing him to withdraw his unsolicited proposal.
If Abalos had nothing to do with the deal, why did he talk about it with the said personalities? His name was the common denominator in all the talks about the project. And why, of all people, was he the one accused by Neri and de Venecia of attempting to bribe them?
But I doff my hat to Abalos for his sense of delicadeza. He voluntarily gave up his post even if he is retiring soon. While others are still doubting his motive for resigning, calling it a face saving measure and to avoid being impeached, for me it was an act of statesmanship.
It is possible Abalos felt the House of Representatives will impeach him considering the influence of Speaker de Venecia. But why won’t we give Abalos the benefit of the doubt and consider his intention noble and his act a personal sacrifice? At least, he knows what delicadeza is.
As for those who are not satisfied with Abalos resignation, what do they want him to do, commit suicide, like what Japanese officials involved in scandals do? I think that's too much. He has stumbled, should we still kick him? That's unfair.
But we can ask him to come up with one other noble act, which is to tell the truth. I think he knows many things about that multi-billion dollar deal, so he should spill the beans on top officials who got commissions or percentages from the deal.
