Abalos quits over smelly NBN-ZTE contract

October 19, 2007  --  Got something to say?
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Chairman Benjamin Abalos SrDespite cancellation of deal, Senate wants probe to continue
MANILA Controversial Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. who was facing impeachment from Congress has resigned and vowed to go after those who allegedly besmirched his name.
This came as China, after a visit from President Arroyo, announced that the controversial contract has been cancelled. But the Senate, which is investigating the $329 million National Broadband Network contract with ZTE, a Chinese firm, wants to proceed with the bribery charge against Abalos and other officials of the Arroyo government.
Malacanang meanwhile clarified that Abalos was only on leave as he has not submitted a formal letter of resignation to President Arroyo. If this is the case, solons said, they will proceed with the impeachment proceedings against Abalos.
Another fallout from the deal, which critics claim was substantially overpriced, was the possible ouster of Jose de Venecia as Speaker of the House because he reportedly backed his sons expose. His son, businessman Joey de Venecia III, was the one who exposed the alleged bribery offer of $10 million to him. Romulo Neri, former NEDA chief, also testified in the Senate that he was also offered 200″ (meaning P200 million) by Abalos to approve the controversial contract.
Abalos announced his resignation amidst fanfare in his home in Barangay Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City. Ako po ay nag-resign

(I have resigned). However, let not my detractors feast on the declaration. Im not admitting anything for any wrongdoing, he said.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines chair, Iloilo Archibishop Angel Lagdameo said the resignation was an answer to their prayers. Thank God Mr. Abalos responded to our prayer. We congratulate the Senate for the inquiry they have done on ZTE-NBN, the CBCP said in a statement. Following the May midterm elections, the influential CBCP had called for the resignation of Abalos to give way to a more credible Commission on Elections.
Abalos faced a menu of scandals in his truncated term as Comelec chairman, according to Eric Alvia, secretary general of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).
Abalos has previously been accused by the opposition of condoning anomalies in recent and previous elections, including the controversial election of President Arroyo as indicated by the Hello Garci tapes. The Senate is also still probing this claim.
Former Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico said that if Abalos has not officially resigned, then the impeachment complaint filed by him should proceed in the House.
Abalos resignation came after majority and minority bloc members in the House of Representatives endorsed the impeachment complaint of Suplico.
Earlier, Abalos asked the speaker to inhibit himself from the impeachment proceedings. The speaker, however, said he will have to fulfil his ministerial duty to endorse the complaint to the House Committee on Justice.
Opposition lawmakers urged Abalos to tell the truth about the deal. Abalos just saved (President Arroyo) from controversy. Abalos saved the queen. This is a victory for our people although it is obviously meant to deny Congress the opportunity to hold him and the others, including the First Couple, accountable for their wrongdoings,” Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino said.
Theres no end in sight yet to the troubles of Abalos as senators vowed to dig deeper into the broadband deal.
Spending hours scrutinizing a transaction is a small price to pay with the end in view of preventing a P16-billion loan from further burdening our people for years, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. told Senate officials.
The ZTE deal is a transaction separate from the persona that is Chairman Abalos. With or without his resignation, it must be concluded,” Villar pointed out.
He said the Senate would continue to provide the forum where lawmakers would hope to uncover the truth behind the questionable transaction even it would mean being criticized for ignoring legislative work.
But defenders of Arroyo declared there was no reason for the Senate to investigate following Abalos resignation.
Sen. Joker Arroyo and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile have lamented the Senate had been spending too much time on investigations to the detriment of other matters that need legislative attention.
If only to provide the ordinary Filipino a voice and through the senators they elected to office and ask what they wanted to ask their leaders, investigations must go on,” Villar stressed.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan also said Abalos resignation would not hinder the Senates pursuit of punishing the guilty in the controversial deal.”
We will continue the hearings, and we hope that he will make himself available despite having resigned should we need him to be present,” Pangilinan said.
Blue Ribbon committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano also said the hearings would continue.
We are nowhere close to ending the ZTE/NBN hearing because were still in fact-finding stage and then there are so much information we need and the First Gentleman and even the President and some secretaries have not given us any or complete information, Cayetano said.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the Comelec chiefs resignation might be a tactical maneuver to evade the questions that will be asked of him in an impeachment proceeding.
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said Abalos resigned out of propriety while Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. regarded Abalos as a sacrificial lamb” of the administration.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, defense committee chair, said the resignation of Abalos probably had already pulled the rug from under those who wanted him impeached.
Remember that the basic objective of impeachment is removal from office so if he resigned, the move for impeachment has become moot and academic, Biazon said.
Sen. Francis Escudero said Abalos resignation would enable him to defend himself without affecting the functions of the Comelec.
Sen. Mar Roxas also called on President Arroyo to create a high level commission composed of men and women of known probity and independence that will look into every facet of the ZTE deal.”
He has decided to separate his personal battles from his duties as a government official,” Sen. Noynoy Aquino said.
His abdication will significantly help to lessen the possibility of inflicting more damage to the Comelec, which has already been marred consistently with controversies such as the MegaPacific deal and the questionable conduct of the 2004 and 2007 national elections,” Aquino added.


Posted by News Team | Filed Under Articles/Stories 

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