Gaite must be
a multi-millionaire

I never realized that Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite could be one of Manila 's known multi-millionaires for him to have been able to razzle up P500,000 to loan to whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr.

Since he claims that the money was not government, then it follows that he must really have oodles of fund to be able to cough up that much cash in record time to send them as loan for a distraught official.

In short, as Gaite pointed out, it was an act of compassion that Lozada had taken advantage of and termed as an attempt to buy his silence on the ZTE-NBN broadband deal.

Now these are just one of the things that Malacañang's damage control team had come up with and seek to ask the public to believe it hook-line-and-sinker.

But the members of the Senate laughed off Gaite's version of the loan. Gaite is sure to get the money if he went to the Senate and swear under oath that it was his money and that Lozada is supposed to pay it.

You know, I have known a lot of millionaires in the National Capital Region, and I guess only a handful could cough up in a hurry that amount of cash. Worse, to turn it over to Lozada's brother without a guarantee that it would reach Lozada.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you either believe it or not. It's a tale that belongs to Ripley's “Believe it or not.”

* * *

There was the other picture of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo purportedly strolling with her Cabinet members in the Palace grounds.

One can immediately see that it had been a photo-op which had been arranged. The intent apparently was to convince the public that all is well and there is no tension among the members of her cabinet.

But, to say that the President just joined her group is another tall story. Oh, well, anything to change the public perception about Malacañang's reaction to the Lozada exposé and the ZTE-NBN broadband probe by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

* * *

Independent Rep. Edno Joson of Nueva Ecija has filed a bill in the House calling for a snap election to elect a president who will complete the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should she be forced to resign her post.

That may be a vain hope. Still, that provides an exit clause that should disarm fears of a possible anarchy that could ensue should the Chief Executive finally relent and give up the Presidency.

We don't know how she will react under the intense pressure from the public for her to quit and relinquish it to somebody else.

I agree with Senator Aquilino Pimentel and Joker Arroyo that Vice President Noli de Castro may now be prepared to succeed the President. After all, he is the constitutionally-mandated successor.

It is not right for us to choose any other than the one whom the Constitution states is the one who succeeds to the presidency. One may have reservations about Noli, but one just cannot dismiss him. We have voted him to the vice presidency. In short, we did not do so without realizing that he is just one heartbeat away from the top post.

Thus, majority of us chose him knowing fully well that he could be it.

* * *

A salute to Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise for presiding over the destruction of weapons surrendered or confiscated from the rebels by the military. They were burned later in the presence of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra who took time out to restate the Church positions against the use of violence to resolve conflict issues.

That shows a firm determination by the military that none of those firearms will again be used to kill people.

The event also provided Navarra a chance to urge parents from promoting love for guns and violence among their children. He also noted the proliferation of toy guns in stores and the violent films shown television as among the factors that seem to have stoked the many incidence of violence among the population.

Kudos to both the military and the Church people for their action that symbolized their adherence to what Bishop Navarra called active non-violence in settling disputes.

* * *

We hope to see thousands joining the massive multi-sectoral rally on Monday to support Lozada, the whistle blower of the ZTE-NBN broadband controversy.

We hope that the last Synod may have parishioners more conscious of their civic duties and their commitment to the truth. Or, as pointed out by Fr. Dan Senal, when we listen to Christ we soon discover that He is the Truth.*

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