DILG Secretary calls Abalos’ resignation an acct of patriotism

By Ronron
October 1, 2007

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos’ resignation on Monday is an act of patriotism.

Saying that the development came as a surprise to him, Puno said Abalos must have thought only about the welfare of the poll body, his family, as well as the upcoming elections for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials on October 29.

“I think he probably made his decision with the interest of the entire political situation in mind. We are having the barangay elections within the end of this month and I’m sure that because of his love for the institution, Chairman Abalos probably felt that it would be better if the elections were pursued without this cloud of controversy hanging over the Commission on Elections,” Puno told reporters at Camp Crame after the turn over of command rites for the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“So, I actually congratulate him for his patriotism, with his sacrifice through his resignation and I wish him well in his future endeavors,” he added.

But Puno was quick to assure that the local polls will definitely push through despite the development, saying the Comelec has long prepared for it. He said that the poll body will definitely come up with an Officer-in-Charge.

The DILG Secretary disputed observations of some that Abalos was a “sacrificial lamb” to save Malacanang from being dragged into the alleged bribery scandal hounding the National Broadband Network (NBN) project controversy.

Former Economic Planning Secretary and incumbent Commission on Higher Education acting chair Romulo Neri had accused Abalos of offering him a bribe for him to endorse the Chinese firm ZTE Corporation to get the NBN deal. Abalos had admitted having close personal relations with ZTE executives but denied the bribery allegation.

Puno said Arroyo was not aware yesterday noon that Abalos had already announced his resignation. “This is coming as a complete surprise to myself. I have been talking with the President since this morning, we have not heard anything about it. So this is purely the decision of Chairman Abalos,” he said.

Both Puno and Arroyo were present in yesterday’s turn over of command rites at Camp Crame.

Puno said that now that Abalos has resigned, the latter could already face his legal battles without dragging along the Comelec as an institution.

“I think that he probably will welcome the fact that any further inquiries will be raised in a judicial environment where proof and evidence is going to be the order of the day rather than allegations and unsubstantiated charges. So, that will probably also be a better way to resolve that issue,” Puno said when asked of his piece of advice for Abalos./DMS