Thursday, February 21, 2008 Wenceslao: Jamby's gambit By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
WHAT’S with Sen. Jamby Madrigal? In her effort to force former socio-economic planning secretary Romulo Neri to testify in the Senate on the aborted national broadband network (NBN) deal, she threatened to expose Neri’s personal secrets. In the previous hearing, Madrigal was the only one who insinuated something about Neri’s sexuality.
Rodolfo Lozada Jr. is a “mere” witness in the Senate inquiry but at least he has the dignity to separate the personal from the political. When asked about Madrigal’s threat, he expressed the hope that a certain level of decency will be maintained in the investigation. He said Neri, a friend, has always been decent throughout the controversy.
Madrigal needs to grow up. She was the same senator who cried when put in her place by the veteran Juan Ponce Enrile. While I admire his closeness with some militant groups, I doubt if she has learned anything from that association. Militants are proponents of political correctness and promote people’s rights, like those of gays and lesbians.
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Did he call President Arroyo evil or didn’t he? Romulo Neri should face the issue squarely and not claim that “he could not recall” it. I think Neri has already explained to the President the context of that “evil” description, so it’s time he should admit his fault. Those who were in the Makati meeting in December have already made a liar out of him.
The problem with Neri is that he talks too much. I could sense that in his rapid answers to questions by reporters constantly hounding him. An official like him are prone to just blurting things out. And I think the man was not really happy with his job in the past, thus he may have cursed his boss, like employees usually do, at one time or another.
Neri has admitted his frustrations, although he noted that the solution to the problems in the country lie with the executive branch and not with the opposition, civil society, militants, etc. I have this feeling, though, that he initially thought the solution is with Arroyo’s critics but later realized the risk of shifting allegiance is much too high.
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The Philippines is really a land of “experts.” People seem to know everything, especially politics. These “experts” come out of the woodworks every time protest actions intensify. Listen to them face the media and talk about who should replace President Arroyo, like they are the ones dictating this country’s politics. Pastilan.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0915-9228651/ my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
