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By William Depasupil, Reporter
Five months remained before retirement, but
Chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
resigned Monday amid the raging controversy surrounding the national
broadband deal.
An emotional chairman, surrounded by his family
and thousands of supporters, said he decided to resign to spare the
Comelec from being dragged into the controversy. There were
allegations that he brokered the $330-million National Broadband
Network project and offered bribes to a Cabinet member and the son
of the House Speaker.
The decision, Abalos said, was made after days
of reflection and consultation with family and friends.
“I have come to the painful determination that
the time has come to separate my person from the office I now
occupy, and the institution I head,” he said. “I am resigning
the chairmanship of the Comelec effective immediately,” Abalos
said, his voice cracking, head bowed and crying.
With the coming barangay and Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) elections on October 29, Abalos said “it is my
intention that with my resignation today I shall have detached the
Comelec from the controversy in which my person is currently
embroiled.”
Not guilty
Abalos repeatedly said his resignation was not
admission of guilt, and he won’t stop until his name is cleared.
He accused the Senate blue-ribbon committee for being “unfair”
in its investigation of the broadband scandal.
“Let not my detractors feast on this
declaration,” he said. “I am not admitting guilt for any
wrongdoing. Neither am I giving up on my crusade to clear my name
and reputation.”
Abalos said he had not discussed his decision
with President Gloria Arroyo and said his resignation would
“negate the accusation that this administration is out to protect
me and my incumbency.”
Arroyo suspended the project on September 22 as
the controversy threatened to implicate her husband in the deal.
Abalos also said he wants to dispel insinuations
that he did favors for congressmen during past elections, and that
those grateful officials will now block the impeachment case
recently filed against him.
“Forty years ago, I entered public service
fired [up] with the ideals of promoting the welfare of our people
and placing public interest above mine at all times,” Abalos said.
Abalos added, “As I bow out of public service,
I find comfort in the thought that at the end of even the longest of
nights, the dawn will break. With the grace of the Almighty, I am
confident that I shall see you once again, head unbowed at
daybreak.”
Mrs. Abalos comments
Abalos’ wife, Corazon, said their whole family
persuaded her husband to resign two days ago. She said her husband
doesn’t deserve the accusations, which are “malicious and very
vicious.”
“He doesn’t like to resign because he said
that it is an act of cowardice and admission of guilt,” said Mrs.
Abalos, who was also close to tears. “But we told him that he
doesn’t deserve this. They have no right to destroy your
person.”
She added, “To those who have maligned my
husband, they should look at themselves first on the mirror before
they judge somebody. I leave their fate to the Almighty.”
Case to be filed
Iloilo Vice-Governor Rolex Suplico, who filed
the impeachment case against Abalos, said he intends to pursue a
criminal case against him. The resignation makes the impeachment
complaint moot.
Abalos said he is ready for the court battle,
though.
“My resignation opens the door for anybody to
file cases against me,” he added. “I welcome that so that I can
clear my name.”
Abalos to file cases
Abalos’ lawyer, Gabby Villareal, said they are
filing a P20-million perjury case against Jose “Joey” de
Venecia 3rd and former socioeconomic planning chief Romulo Neri for
lying under oath.
“We identified that Joey de Venecia and Romulo
Neri are the source of lies against Chairman Abalos,” Villareal
said. “Jarius Bondoc was just used as an instrument to spread said
lies.”
He said that if they win, the P20 million
proceeds would be donated to the various charities, including Ciara
Marie Foundation, which was founded in honor of Abalos’ late
granddaughter, and the Wack Wack Caddies Association.
Comelec movements
With his resignation, Abalos said Senior
Commissioner Resurrecion Borra would act as officer in charge
pending the President’s appointment of a permanent replacement.
He said he plans to attend Tuesday’s
Comelec’s en banc session but not as a chairman. He said he just
wants to share his thoughts about the coming October 29 polls.
Abalos added that he just wants to ensure a smooth turnover.
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