Wednesday, October 03, 2007 Ex-poll chair's woes far from over
COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chair Benjamin Abalos's woes are far from over even after he resigned from his post Monday.
This was the statement made by Senator Panfilo Lacson who urged his fellow lawmakers to continue their investigation on the controversial national broadband network deal between the government and the ZTE Corporation, which was allegedly brokered by Abalos.
Lacson said in a press release that the truth must come out and that culpability of people behind the anomalous deal must be brought to court.
"While Abalos's resignation saved Congress and the entire country the pain and divisiveness attending any impeachment proceedings, it could also deny the Filipino people the whole truth behind the ZTE mess," Lacson said.
"The unavoidable question that comes to mind is was it a tactical maneuver on the part of Abalos to avoid questions in an impeachment hearing and possibly a trial in the Senate? Was it done as a dampener to the enthusiasm of the Senate as well as the public that we can all rest easy, fold our arms and stop looking for the culpability of bigger personalities in the ZTE anomaly?," the senator added.
Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte, meanwhile, hailed Abalos for his decision. She said the Comelec chair's decision saved him from more ridicule and the Comelec from being dragged to the controversy.
"It's the honorable thing to do given the gravity of the controversy. Likewise it will keep the integrity of Comelec as an institution," she said. (BOT)
