PerryScope
by Perry Diaz
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Bajamin Abalos is back in the news. In a resolution by the Office of the Ombudsman, criminal charges were filed against Abalos and Social Security System president Romulo Neri before the Sandiganbayan for violation of the anti-graft law and Revised Penal Code in connection with the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) project between the government and the Chinese firm ZTE Corp. However, the Ombudsman absolved First Gentleman Mike Arroyo of the same charges. But with president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, no charges can be filed against her because of presidential immunity from lawsuits. However, once Gloria is no longer president, anybody can file charges against her.
With president-apparent Beningo “Noynoy” Aquino III’s campaign promise to prosecute Gloria and others who were implicated in numerous corruption cases during Gloria’s nine-year corruption-prone presidency, it is expected that Gloria’s exit would open the floodgates to lawsuits.
But why did the Ombudsman wait towards the end of Gloria’s presidency to file charges against Abalos and Neri, instead of waiting for the next administration of Noynoy? Or did she do it to pre-empt Noynoy from prosecuting Gloria and Mike? Seemingly, the Ombudsman’s resolution reeks of deception and manipulation.
People close to Gloria believe that the Ombudsman’s resolution clearing Gloria and Mike would put a closure on the case against them. But many legal experts believe otherwise. Noynoy claims that based on what was recommended in the Ombudsman’s resolution, he did not find total closure.
It is anticipated that charges would be filed against Gloria once she’s stripped of her presidential immunity. And since anybody can file charges against Gloria, I wouldn’t be surprised if former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada himself would file plunder charges against her. It must be remembered that Erap suffered the same fate when he was charged with plunder right after Gloria ousted him and took over the presidency in 2001. That would be poetic justice.
Gloria’s fate
It is interesting to note that Gloria’s defenders don’t seem to worry about her fate. Gloria’s deputy presidential spokesperson Charito Planas said that any Filipino citizen can file the case against Gloria, but they have to have evidence. One wonders if all the links connecting the First Couple to the NBN-ZTE corruption scandal have already been removed or sanitized.
In absolving Mike Arroyo, the Ombudsman’s’ resolution reads: “Quite interestingly, the only memory that stands out during this meeting (at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong) was (Mr.) Arroyo’s statement that (Jose) de Venecia (III) was told to back off from the project.”
This brings to mind the question: What transpired at Wack Wack?
Wack Wack connection
Founded in 1930, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club has been the place to be for the rich and the famous. Named after the “uwak” (crow), Wack Wack has become synonymous with power and influence; that is, political power and influence peddling.
The NBN-ZTE scandal that forced the resignation of Abalos as Comelec Chairman has brought to the limelight this venue for a series of rendezvous involving Philippine government officials and businessmen from China. Indeed, Wack Wack was where the deals involving multi-billion peso projects were sealed with handshakes.
One of these projects — the $329 million NBN project — was allegedly brokered by Abalos and also implicated Mike Arroyo. The disclosure was made by Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., in his testimony before a Senate panel. De Venecia claimed that Abalos tried to bribe him for $10 million to withdraw its bid in favor of ZTE Corp., China’s third largest telecommunication firm. He also accused Arroyo of telling him to “back off” the project. And all of these alleged incidents happened at Wack Wack.
Why Wack Wack? It turned out that Abalos has been wearing too many hats, one of which is his business interest in Wack Wack — he owns substantial shares. He is also the president of Wack Wack. It’s sounds wacky but Wack Wack is Abalos’ exclusive domain — his little enchanted kingdom that attracts the powerful and influential people.
Wack Wack has been a dominant part of Abalos’ life since his birth. He was born poor in Pangasinan on September 21, 1935. His parents, Ciriaco Ruiz Abalos and Efroncina Santos Abalos, both worked as a locker room attendants at Wack Wack. He grew up in Madaluyong where Wack Wack is located and when he was old enough to work, he went to work at Wack Wack as a caddy. Golfing became his passion. And golfing also helped him connect with the rich and the powerful.
As president of Wack Wack, it was not uncommon for the VIP guests to pay him a visit in his office. In one interview with a newspaper reporter, Abalos said, “With so many VIPs I’ve spoken to and met at Wack Wack, I might be accused of brokering a lot more deals.”
At one time, by his own admission, Abalos hosted ZTE officials at Wack Wack. And at another time, he played golf with Neri, who was then the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Neri claimed that Abalos offered him a bribe of “200” — this figure was presumed to be 200 million pesos — to endorse the ZTE contract. Neri declined the offer and reported the incident to Gloria. According to Neri, the President told him not to accept the bribe. However, within a short period of time after that, Gloria abruptly transferred Neri to a lesser position as officer in charge of the Commission on Higher Education. Was the transfer a punishment for Neri for not taking the bribe and stay quiet?
When Neri was interrogated by a Senate investigation panel, he refused to cooperate and denied that the First Couple were involved in the scandal. Subsequently, he was promoted to a plum job as president of the Social Security System. Was his promotion a reward for being a “team player”?
Reclusión perpetua
Recently, the Ombudsman denied Abalos’ and Neri’s motion for reconsideration and upheld its recommendation to file criminal and administrative charges against them. In reaction to the ruling, Malacañang said that the fate of Abalos and Neri is now up to the courts and that Gloria would have nothing to do with it. Now, that the Ombudsman is going to hang Abalos and Neri out to dry, I wonder if these two would continue to seal their lips and continue to protect Gloria and Mike out of loyalty.
But what price loyalty? Is it worth a permanent imprisonment of an “indivisible penalty of 40 years” with no possibility of parole? If Abalos and Neri find the choice too tough to make, then they should be prepared to live the rest of their lives in reclusión perpetua in the tough environment of Muntinglupa penitentiary, a far cry from Wack Wack where the rich and powerful play… and make deals.
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