BULL’S HIT

Execs who should resign in Baguio and Manila
Rudy Garcia

The decision of the Sandiganbayan on the Erap case can be a testing point in the credibility of the justice system. The non-guilty verdict for perjury can be said to be fair and square by some while the guilty verdict of plunder can be somehow a consolation for those who have already lost their faith in our justice system.

Looking back, it was then former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson who came out and accused Erap of pocketing millions of pesos from jueteng bribe money and tobacco excise taxes. In this case, the prosecution exhausted all the means to satisfy the three judges of the Sandiganbayan trying the case, hence the verdict.

While we are all for due to respect to the rule of law like decisions made by the Sandiganbayan, anyone can have doubt whether the judicial body’s verdict is fair or mere political persecution.
For how can we made to believe that it was fair and square when there are known allies of Malacañang who should also be investigated and put to trial, roaming scot-free, living normally and comfortably while some of them were even given juicy positions. What happened to the exposed fertilizer scam of Jocjoc Bolante, the controversial “Hello Garci” scandal of former Commission on elections top gun Virgilio Garcillano, the ZTE contract of Benjamin Abalos, the alleged graft and practice of former justice secretary Nani Perez, the questionable “Jose Pidal” bank accounts and so forth?

While the decision of the Sandiganbayan can be laudable, it is a matter of question why it was only Erap who was implicated. How about those who participated in the bribe giving? I am not a lawyer but what I understand, the bribe giver is equally liable as the bribe taker. Much more that the bribe money came from an illegal activity. Isn’t it also that the middleman of the transaction was also a part or an accessory in the case? If this is not political persecution, I don’t know how what to call it.

Now again, another “bombshell” was exposed recently by Joey de Venecia III son of House speaker Joe de Venecia regarding the multi million pesos ZTE broadband deal. The young De Venecia accused Abalos of having brokered the said project to gain millions of kickbacks.
De Venecia also accused Abalos of forcing him and his trading company to “back off” from the project and offered him 10 million dollars bribe money. He even mentioned Romulo Neri, former chief of the National Economic Development Authority and Leandro Mendoza of the Dept. of Transportation and Communications of having a role in the deal but he didn’t directly implicate First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Abalos just laughed off the accusation and claimed that the young De Venecia was just sour graping and branded him a “liar.” I guess, that who ever is lying between the two is premature to determine at this point.

At the Senate, Neri said he was also offered a 200 million dollar bribe by Abalos for the NBN project and claimed to have rejected and informed the attempted bribe to President Arroyo. Here, it is interesting to know what appropriate action the president did when informed by Neri of the attempted bribery by Abalos.

The truth may come out in the ongoing senate investigation. As I can see, Neri seems in reluctant in revealing all he knows by making the executive order his shield while citing his right to confidentiality. The inconsistent testimonies of Abalos only made him prejudged by public opinion that he was lying under oath before the panel of senators.

Simply put, the controversial multi million ZTE broadband deal cannot push through and should not have gone this far if the concerned line government agencies did their part. If only one of them should have had the guts to do what the young De Venecia did. Look what they are doing now, they are pointing fingers at each other! The best thing these gentlemen can do is to resign now and make an honorable exit from their positions out of delicadeza.

Right honorables Mendoza, Neri, Abalos and Abaya ang Formoso of Budget and Finance?

You see, this NBN project was done the “short cut short circuit way.” It was alike a criminal case filled outright at the municipal or Regional Trial Court without the benefit of investigation, resolution and information from the prosecutors office.

Sen. Miriam Santiago may have been right when she said the Senate was only wasting time and effort in this investigation because this was the root of squabble by people going after big kickbacks. How I wish she also said the same during the investigation of Erap’s case.

How about conducting a senate hearing on this ZTE broadband deal at the detention cell of Sen. Trillanes? This can be a different venue for a different Senate session. Just the same, politics is politics. It can be dirty or not depending on the politicos who assume power and authority.

In the game of politics there is no end. You can be powerful, free or indispensable now but not for tomorrow. Bilog ang mundo. Remember that there is a universal law of retribution to everyone regardless of who you are.

To end this line I would like to borrow some of the lyrics from Mike Hanopol’s song “Mr Kenkoy” dedicated to all “kenkoys” of the ZTE Broadband deal….. “Hoy, hoy, hoy mga keykoy, bakit kayo nangangamoy, mga kenkoy?”
***

If the complaint of one of my field reporter is true that a new member of the Baguio City public order and safety division or POSD under the mayors office acted arrogantly against him during an operation at the Hanger Market at Hilltop in the morning of Sept. 21, then this abusive and arrogant POSD operative who was a former Baguio policeman should be given appropriate disciplinary action from their chief engineer Greg Delejero. In fact being a member of a task force in an office of public order and safety, this new recruit doesn’t deserve to stay longer in government service.

If I remember right, there was a POSD operative who was shot and seriously wounded by a Muslim trader years back apparently because of his arrogant and abusive manner in approaching an old Muslim vendor, yet some POSD members have not learned their lessons from what happened to their colleague.

They presumed that they were superior to lesser folks like us. Next time, you happen to cross path with a POSD member be sure to have your pants on otherwise, you may suffer the same fate as this fellow media member. Better still, if you know some members of the POSD who are be abusive and arrogant, don’t hesitate to report this directly to their chief Greg Delejero at the mayors office.

I’m sure he will entertain your complaints with utmost secrecy if you desire, and surely will initiate appropriate disciplinary sanctions on his erring personnel. Right Mr. Greg?