fficials of the Chinese
firm ZTE were understandably hesitant at forking over good money in "commission"
unless they had a strong assurance they would get the contract for the national
broadband network project. To test then election chairman Benjamin Abalos’
claimed strong influence in the Palace, they asked that no less than the
President of the Republic fly at a moment’s notice to Boao in Southern China to
witness the contract signing.
The President promptly left the bedside of her seriously ill
husband to accommodate the Chinese’ wishes.
This was the tale told by Jose "Joey" de Venecia III. Even
before the Boao overnight trip, Joey said, Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike
met ZTE officials in Shenzhen, as arranged also by Abalos. The Arroyos’ presence
was also demanded by the ZTE officials before they would come across with the
initial "commission" which they indeed handed over after the meeting, also
according to Joey.
The total cut from the $329 million deal was placed by Joey
at an incredible $130 million or P5.2 billion at current exchange rate.
We have to give these people credit. When they decide to sell
their country, their price is more than 30 pieces of silver.
We never had any illusions that the Arroyos were anything but
big-time. And probably also a great majority of the people who nevertheless are
hesitant to act despite knowing that the biggest thieves in the country’s
history have set up shop by the Pasig.
But Joey’s testimony stands alone, corroborated only in parts
and indirectly by, for example, former planning secretary Romulo Neri’s
disclosure of a P200 million bribe offer from Abalos.
Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Neri’s unofficial adviser, provided that
corroboration and this was the reason the Palace panicked when he decided to
appear before the Senate. He was abducted and it was only by the grace of God
that he did not end up in an unmarked grave.
We have always believed the Arroyos are already beyond
redemption. What puzzles us is why people we have considered as being honorable
at core or politically astute are prepared – to crib from the late Vice
President Emmanuel Pelaez – to lend their honor to the couple.
There’s PNP chief Avelino Razon, for example, who is retiring
from the service anyway by the middle of the year. Then there’s Lito Atienza
who, if he is entertaining any hope of making a comeback as Manila mayor, ought
to have the sense to distance himself from the administration.
But why limit ourselves to the examples of Razon and Atienza?
Anyone who serves this administration, career functionaries excepted, stands
indicted along with the Arroyo couple. We have grown hoarse calling on Gloria to
resign. Perhaps we should turn our attention elsewhere – to relatives, friends
and acquaintances serving the administration.
The old call of "Resign all!" should be given a new meaning.
