Thursday, November 27, 2008 Editorial: Jose de Venecia dilemma
Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia has finally come out of his shell, giving the public a glimpse of the wheeling and dealing at the top levels of the Arroyo administration where he once strolled. But that’s the problem.
By revealing the details of some of the supposed shenanigans of government, JDV presented a dilemma to a public thirsting for the truth: Is he for real and should thus be believed or is he partly a fraud and should thus be taken lightly?
The dilemma is probably the reason why his recent revelations, like last year’s “bribery” by Malacañang of congressmen and local government officials, did not seem as explosive as, say, some of the claims of Rodolfo Lozada Jr.
People seem to be holding judgment, unable as yet to separate the wily traditional politician who helped President Arroyo weather previous impeachment attempts from the substance of his recent claims.
Backlash
Indeed, there is something in de Venecia that inspires contempt where he should have been praised and hailed as a hero for exposing the alleged irregularities committed by the Arroyo administration.
Perhaps it would help if he would lop off from his exposes those motherhood statements and claims about this being his contribution to the fight against corruption and instead proceed to the narration of facts.
Because every time JDV talks about lofty goals people are immediately reminded of his own failings and scheming when he was still allied with the President.
Credibility
In fairness to the man, there could be truth to some of his revelations, although which part is that and what he is withholding to save his own scalp have become subject of conjectures especially among the non-believers.
The point is that de Venecia’s alliance with the President he is now branding as corrupt was deep and long, meaning, the muck Arroyo is in also dirtied him.
That surely also presented a dilemma to him because his accusations against the President could very well be the same accusations that could be targeted at him.
In sum, the political opposition may have to be reminded of one of the main lessons that can be culled from the successful ouster of then president Joseph Estrada presented: having credible witnesses is an important consideration.
