Sex, lies, and Abalos or Just another day for the Chairman

And death threats and wiretaps. What else could be added to this brew?

Today has been just another day for Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, who reportedly reported for work to preside over election dispute hearings, presumably after his routine at the golf course. Undaunted by what we consider the explosive testimony of Jose de Venecia III at the Senate, the chairman, after emerging from the hearings, simply reiterated his blanket denials and would not speculate on what could be motivating JdVIII and the columnist Jarius Bondoc. Unlike DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who called the 'rantings' fairy tales of a 'losing bidder' (what bidding?). The sons of the FG, meanwhile, called the testimony 'black propaganda,' but did not explain why the son of the House speaker would risk prosecution and his and his father's future.

If you are a well-meaning and upright citizen hoping to shame the chairman into resignation, or worse, into suicide, yours is a losing battle. The reason Abalos comports himself the way he does is his confidence he will go down only with the rest of the boys, and girls, and the school marm who are at the very core of our society's power structure. If we were a functioning democracy, JdVIII's revelations alone would have been enough to trigger a wave of resignations and immediate indictments. But it is not, and, depending on the appreciation of the silent majority, our society can either implode , or revert to business as usual (BAU) mode. If the former, we risk manipulation by forces just as insidious and unethical as those they want to replace, especially in the absence of a democratic mass movement strong enough to take the reins. But that is still a better option than BAU, whose rottenness and workings JdVIII may have unwittingly exposed.

First, look at Abalos's disingenuous protestations. On the alleged sexcapades in Shenzen: my sexual prowess is myth. On his alleged power-brokering or 'commissioning' : who am I to wield such influence? I can attest to the chairman's integrity, to the effect that he, in hell, would rather consult his lawyers rather than his conscience, and this guy could swindle the devil himself as long as he could get away with it.

Second, take the narration of JdVIII at face value and appreciate that the guy has exposed his own culpability under our graft and corruption laws. But more important to me is the value of his own account of the way deals are made in this country.

• Would the proposal of his company have been taken seriously if he were not the son of his father?
• Would he have had access to high officials, the DOTC and Finance secretaries? Why would the DOTC secretary arrange a reconciliation meeting between two entities unless the secretary considered them part of the boys' network?
• His testimony also implied that his President knew of Abalos's brokering efforts and of his own proposal.
  

Now look at why Abalos apparently failed to, excuse my language, cover his ass with a cover story underpinned by 'plausible deniability?' Simply because he considered the young man and the father part of the 'old boys.'

In recent weeks, acquaintances in the energy sector have reported that their colleagues have admitted regularly delivering millions to the mystery man from procurement deals. I can only hope that at some point they find their balls and free themselves from this vicious circle or cycle.

And what of Romulo Neri? I was in a meeting with him last year with stakeholders of a foreign-funded project. I was initially turned off because he admitted to me that some columnists were in his payroll but this was mitigated by his independent attitude toward power sector regulation. I just hope he will surface and stand for his convictions, if any remain. I know that he has always been a player. In the next few days, we will know the game he has chosen.

And what about my favorite morally challenged senator? During the impeachment hearings in 2000, she questioned the testimony of a UP law graduate, insinuating that Ms. Banal's behavior was questionable because it was unlike her own documented opportunism. Yesterday, she questioned JdVIII's integrity on the same grounds. You want her to commit hara kiri. Chew your fingers.