Questioning Jinggoy!

“Now, I am not questioning the motive of Senate President Pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada in bringing in Rabusa as witness. Rabusa’s testimony proved damning to the public against former AFP chief, Secretary Angelo Reyes, whose switching of allegiance in January 2001 led to the downfall of then Prez Erap Estrada, Jinggoy’s father… He or other probers could take the cue from the mode of questioning usually employed by Sen. Joker Arroyo, or Sen. Gringo Honasan or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. They seldom raise their voices, their language could be cutting even if shorn of venom. And what’s more, they extract the needed information.”

QUESTIONING JiNgGoY!

The Senate blue ribbon committee hit pay dirt in its anti-graft and corruption drive with the testimony of retired Col. George Rabusa, former AFP budget officer, on the allegedly “welcome” and “pabaon [sendoff]” gifts for incoming and retiring AFP chiefs of staff. I hope it will not fritter away this golden opportunity to curb corruption in the military by giving the impression that some of its members are out for vendetta or “pogi points” with the press.

Personalities should not intrude into this noteworthy inquiry or else, its findings would be suspect. Now, I am not questioning the motive of Senate President Pro-tempore Jinggoy Estrada in bringing in Rabusa as witness. Rabusa’s testimony proved damning to the public against former AFP chief, Secretary Angelo Reyes, whose switching of allegiance in January 2001 led to the downfall of then Prez Erap Estrada, Jinggoy’s father. But even if Jinggoy is not out for vendetta, he should have at least referred Rabusa to another senator so there would be no color to Rabusa’s testimony.

I like the attitude of Jinggoy toward fugitive Sen. Ping Lacson much better. Whenever media sought his comments on Ping, Jinggoy would give a guarded comment, and for good reason. When Ping was linked to the murder of publicist Bubby Dacer, he delivered a privileged speech claiming that Erap knew more about the supposed operation against Dacer. This led to the cooling of relations between the Estradas and Ping. It was also for this reason that Jinggoy is almost always hesitant in answering questions about Ping who is still on the lam. He explains that his comments might be held suspect because of his relations with Ping.

Of course, it is not yet too late for Jinggoy to stop coming in strong against Reyes. He, as well as other members of the blue ribbon, can ferret out the truth without subjecting Reyes or other former AFP chiefs of staff to humiliation or ridicule. He or other probers could take the cue from the mode of questioning usually employed by Sen. Joker Arroyo, or Sen. Gringo Honasan or Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. They seldom raise their voices, their language could be cutting even if shorn of venom. And what’s more, they extract the needed information.

Perhaps, asking senators to keep personalities off the “pabaon” scandal might be too much. I note that Secretary Reyes has chosen lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan as his counsel. Well, if both Alentajan and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago will attend the hearing tomorrow, Thursday, expect all hell to break loose. Senator Miriam is one who can never forget a perceived offense against her and she is still smarting from the disbarment case he had filed against her, citing among other things her mental health. That disbarment case has been thrown out by the High Tribunal but the very mention of Alentajan’s name still sends her temperature and blood pressure soaring.

Going back to the “pabaon” issue, I was struck by the comment of Rabusa in an ANC interview that Mrs. Reyes had asked him not to tell her husband about the amounts given her in her foreign travels “as this would anger him.” What does this say of Angelo Reyes in relation to the giving of perks to his wife? (By Efren Danao)