Pimentel son on embattled Abalos: ‘Karma’

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–”That’s his karma.”

This was how lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III described the controversy hounding Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos regarding the allegedly anomalous national broadband network project.

According to dictionary.com, karma is “the action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation.”

Pimentel, who lost his senatorial bid in the last May elections, used a forum in Quezon City to ventilate his sentiments against Abalos, who he claimed had “masterminded” the alleged cheating in the elections last May.

He said the NBN contract between the government and the ZTE Corp. was one of the continuing “injustices” that the country has been facing under this present administration.

“Ang dami pa ring injustices hindi lamang sa aspeto ng human rights, pati na rin sa [There have been a lot injustices not only in the aspect of human rights but also in the [stealing the people's mandate and the latest one is the ZTE involving the same person, who maneuvered, masterminded the stealing of an election, is the same person now involved in this anomalous ZTE contract," Pimentel said, referring to Abalos.

"So good for him [Abalos]. So that’s his karma. Nobody believes him kahit anong gawin niyang paliwanag [no matter what explanation he gives],” he said.

In the House of Representatives, Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros pressed for the filing of an impeachment complaint against Abalos following a detailed testimony by Jose “Joey ” De Venecia III in the Senate regarding the chairman’s role in the NBN fiasco.

De Venecia is the son of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and a major shareholder of the Amsterdam Holdings Inc, one of the proponents of the NBN project.

Hontiveros said De Venecia’s sworn statement was enough to impeach Abalos.

“The statement, which was given under oath, would make Comelec Chairman Abalos accountable for violating the Anti-Graft and Corruption law and betrayal of public trust,” she said in a statement.

“At the very least, the minority should meet and discuss whether the testimony is enough to impeach Abalos. Since Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico has not filed his complaint yet, the minority might tackle the possibility of linking up with Jose de Venecia III about the matter,” she pointed out.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño and Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Liza Maza were no longer surprised by the younger De Venecia’s mention of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and his supposed role in the deal.

“If First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is the mystery man, it doesn’t take too much to conclude who the mystery woman is. Above all, she could be held accountable in the NBN-ZTE deal,” Casiño said, referring to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, an administration ally, joined calls for the First Gentleman to address the issue confronting him.

“I think, I’ve been always supportive of the administration but this time, I hope he [Mr. Arroyo] will address the allegation against him,” Abante said.

But Cebu Representative Pablo Garcia, also an administration ally, said the President’s husband could choose not to appear in a congressional inquiry since the Constitution provided that only a judge could issue a warrant of arrest or compel a person to participate in the hearing.

Unlike Abante, Garcia was more interested in what the Speaker has to say about his son’s exposé.

“He [the Speaker] should not keep quiet. The people also expect to hear something from him,” he said.

The Cebu lawmaker would not say however how this latest exposé against Mr. Arroyo would affect the political alignment in the House.

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