Romulo Neri should REALLY stand on her own and RESIGN

For protecting her president, Romulo Neri now faces a humiliating graft charge before the Office of the Ombusman. Humiliating in the sense that Neri now has to explain her visits to the ZTE-NBN offices, her golf sorties with the First Gentleman and ex-Con, err, ex-COMELEC chair Benjamin Abalos and her meeting with Mrs. Arroyo at the Palace. For a former professor known for having a clean and honest mien and with a spotless record of service to the country, this graft charge is most humiliating indeed for Romulo Neri.

Worst, the palace announced that Neri is on his own. Neri has six months to answer the graft charges and during that time, all benefits for her are suspended. That is the reward for her not spilling the beans on her beloved president.

Some say that the most honorable thing for Neri to do now is resign her post as SSS president. Come to think of it, this graft charge gave Neri a reason to resign and save herself from another humiliation---that of being charged as the one who nearly bankrupted the SSS. The agency right now suffers from extreme financial difficulties.

Neri said that he's most surprised why he's now being charged with graft when all these things are "circumstantial" at best. Neri contends he was the one who actually refused the offer and now, he's being cruficied or possibly sacrificed in order to protect the hides of those who really masterminded the whole caper.

But, that's the thing. The administration wants this thing done and over with without really putting great legal pressure on their own sacrificial lamb who happens to be Neri.

Circumstantial evidence is weaker compared with direct or documentary evidence. So, expect Abalos and Neri to come out of this whole charade unscathed. They'll not be jailed. They'll just sacrifice their reputations.

Gordon is all mouth, no action

Quo vadis, Mr. Senator Richard Gordon? What happened to JOc-Joc Bolante? Think we forgot about it? So, he's as free as a bird despite stealing a billion pesos from us? He's now enjoying his riches.

It seems that you're not doing your job, Mr. Senator. You're all bombast, no action. You just fooled us, the people, into believing that what you did at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would lead to justice. But, what now? Where's our justice? We have'nt seen any one being jailed. Are you part of the conspiracy to dilute the Bolante fertilizer fund scam and again fool the people that government is doing something, when, nothing came out of it?

And now, you want to be president?

I am now near believing that the Senate is a big boudavil, or a big ACT, just for the entertainment of our impoverished folk.

JDV to cross swords against the Gang of Pigs

Will the father follow the footsteps of his controversial son this September? That appears to be the case here as former Speaker Joe de Venecia is said to be preparing for his testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the controversial ZTE deal. His testimony could potentially open a can of worms, says political kibitzers. But, for it to cause a huge issue that would lead to the downfall of Arroyo, I think not.

Arroyo remains as strong as ever. Charges of graft and corruption are starting to take centerstage again, with news on possible intervention of the lawyer of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo on the Meralco case linked to the bribery issue at the Court of Appeals and the reported pork barrel release timed for charter change. JDV's testimony could disrupt things temporarily. But if JDV fails to animate the curiosity of Filipinos on what really transpired on this botched deal, then, that could very well pose a big problem for the opposition.

This, I think, is the last card by the opposition against Arroyo. Should JDV fail to stir up the hornet's nest on this one, they have nothing more to accuse Arroyo of, leading to an uneasy impasse.

JDV's testimony could also lead to a disintegration of Lakas-CMD. This early, many of its veterans are thinking of abandoning ship with the latest pronouncement of Ray Roquero of the list of possible presidential bets. Many Lakas-CMD members think they have a shallow bench in 2010. With JDV's testimony against Arroyo and her gang of pigs, ass-lickers within this party may opt to change partylines to avoid a pork barrel shutoff.