No other way for Abalos

Many political observers have been surprised by the sudden resignation of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos. Only a few days before that he assertively declared before tv cameras that he would not surrender. Surrender, he said, implies guilt. What happened?

The NBN case has been the subject of coffee table talks since the Senate started its hearing on it. Central to these has been Abalos himself and his alleged attempt to bribe Joey de Venecia and Chairman Romulo Neri. Despite his denial, the consensus has been that the poll body chief must have actually offered what the two witnesses claimed he offered. Two people against one - the weight of the testimonies of course tilts against Abalos. His denial therefore sounded hollow even if he took an oath before opening his mouth in that inquiry.

There are reasons why the two high-profile witnesses appeared to be telling the truth. Joey de Venecia is the son of the Speaker de Venecia, an ally of President Arroyo. His exposé therefore was inimical to the interest of the administration, politically or otherwise. It was also adverse to the interest of his father whose tenure as head of the Lower House depends largely upon the President. In fact, immediately after Joey's revelation, speculations were ripe that the days of the Speaker were numbered. Joey's status plus the possible adverse effects his testimony generated clothed such testimony with acceptability.

As for Chairman Neri, his cabinet portfolio and his known integrity as a government official make him as credible as the young de Venecia.

It is most likely that in the face of the de Venecia-Neri exposés Abalos must have realized that very few would believe him even if he swore before ten angels. Very few Congressmen too would have taken his word, which meant that the impeachment charge filed against him would have most likely prospered. In the process his only hope would have lain with the President whose options are respected by majority of the Congressmen. But PGMA is trying to distance herself from the controversy. Were she to save Abalos' neck her interest in the transaction would have been revealed, and this would have placed her presidency in a precarious situation. Better to let go of the fellow than court disaster. This explains why Malacañang merely let out a subdued "we're surprised" comment on Abalos' decision and not even a word of commiseration was heard.

Whom the gods would want to destroy they first make mad, says a Greek aphorism. Have the gods made Abalos mad? Some people are inclined to believe so. For one thing, what was the Comelec chief doing in a business transaction which had nothing to do with the electoral process? Between managing elections and negotiating for a broadband network, there simply is no connection. That job rightly belongs to NTC people or to NEDA if not to DOST guys. How come Abalos was in the command post of the negotiation?

Did somebody very influential request him to do the job? And why could he not decline the request? Was he enticed to do it by the possibility of getting a slice of the payola pie? If suspicion to this effect lingers, the whole thing is not without basis. Simple calculation reveals that $330 million (the price of the project) translates to 14.7 billion pesos plus at the current rate. And one must be naïve indeed not to know that a government transaction of this magnitude always results in a windfall of millions for those involved. Add to these the not too enviable track record of Abalos at the Comelec (remember the computerization fiasco and the Hello Garci controversy?) and the finger pointing in his direction cannot be avoided.

Now that the alleged bribe giver is out, who's next to call it quits? Would Neri be stricken with self-guilt? In the hearing, he directed his firepower at Abalos but refused to reveal certain information, claiming executive privilege. Even in the close-door session, he remained adamant. What information was he hiding? Even without his saying it people suspect it has something to do with his boss. It must have been a very sensitive information because he clammed up rigidly despite attempts to pry him open.

Whatever the outcome of the ongoing Senate inquiry on this controversy, the resignation of the Comelec head can be viewed as a triumph of the opposition Senators. Even if they don't have the evidence to directly link President Arroyo to the deal, at least they have cracked the solidarity of her camp. What will happen next?

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