EDITORIAL - Chilling effect

Under current circumstances, no one is expecting the impeachment of President Arroyo or the criminal indictment of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for their alleged roles in the ZTE bribery scandal. Neither is anyone expecting the officials accused of trying to cover up the scandal to lose their jobs or be suspended for even a day. Malacañang has disregarded an order of the Office of the Ombudsman suspending Romulo Neri, the former director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority. Neri initially told the Senate about a P200-millon bribe offer from resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos, then lost his nerve and invoked executive privilege when his testimony got his boss the President enmeshed in the scandal.

Neri now handles billions of pesos in private sector pension funds. It’s doubtful that he will fall out of favor with the administration any time before noon of June 30, 2010. The officials accused of direct involvement in the deal or trying to suppress the testimony of whistle-blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. are just as secure in their posts, even if they have been recommended for indictment by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. Among these officials are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, his former deputy Manuel Gaite who has since been promoted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and two officials under him, and Lozada’s former direct superior, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

The only individuals in the Blue Ribbon report who are bound to face the full force of the law, at least during this administration, are Lozada himself as well as the prime whistle-blower, businessman Joey de Venecia. Unlike the lucky Neri and Gaite, Lozada has lost his job and his old life since testifying before the Senate, and is likely to lose his shirt in trying to defend himself legally.

Lozada and De Venecia, son and namesake of the Pangasinan congressman who was ousted as House speaker for failing to gag his son, could probably turn state witness, but this has to be approved by government prosecutors. Until that approval is given, the two would have to continue spending for their legal defense, the amount of which could be considerable. With arrest warrants against them, their movements including foreign travel are limited.

The Blue Ribbon report, largely anticlimactic, shows what happens to whistle-blowers in this country. It has a chilling effect that will set back efforts to fight corruption.