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The resignation of Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. of the Commission of
Elections (Comelec) renders his impeachment case moot and academic,
but the Senate will continue its investigation into the
controversial broadband deal.
House Majority Leader Rep. Arthur Defensor of
Iloilo said, “The purpose of an impeachment is to remove the
respondent or a public official from office. I don’t think Speaker
Jose de Venecia will still refer the impeachment complaint to the
House Committee on Justice.”
Defensor, together with two other administration
allies, representatives Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao and Monico
Puentevella of Bacolod, welcomed Abalos’ resignation. They praised
the chairman for his “moral courage” to prove his innocence.
The congressmen who endorsed the impeachment
case, Reps. Teofisto Guingona 3rd of Bukidnon, and Teodoro Casiño
of Bayan Muna Party-List, were not surprised with Abalos’
announcement.
In separate interviews, Guingona and Casiño
said the resignation is an act of saving face amid the raging
controversy. Abalos was accused of brokering and offering bribes to
a Cabinet member and the son of the House Speaker in connection with
the project.
Abalos denied those allegations, and that he was
merely friends with executives of ZTE Corp., which bagged the
project. Abalos said he will file cases against accusers.
Casiño said the Ombudsman should run after
Abalos and charge him for allegedly “brokering” for the Chinese
firm.
Guingona added he is not convinced the Palace
had nothing to do with the decision of Abalos.
Villar: Probe to proceed
Senate President Manuel Villar praised Abalos’
decision to resign, but added that the Senate investigation will
continue.
Referring to Abalos’ announcement, Villar
said, “This reflects a sense of delicadeza and sensitivity to
public opinion on the part of Chairman Abalos.”
But he said the inquiry must continue because
the ZTE deal is a transaction that is separate from the person of
Abalos. “With or without his resignation, it must be concluded.”
UNO’s reaction
United Opposition President Jejomar Binay
welcomed the resignation of Abalos but insists that the “search
for the truth behind the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN)
scandal should be pursued and not end with his resignation.”
Business sector reacts
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chairman Donald Dee said in a telephone interview that the business
community has lauded the decision of Abalos.
Dee said that they expect that charges will be
filed formally, “Then it is where the proper forum is.”
--Maricel Cruz, Efren L. Danao, James Konstantin Galvez and
Katrina Valdez
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