A damning silence

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The alleged payoffs were consummated right inside the grounds of Malacañang Palace, the symbolic home of the Presidents of the country, past and present. The cash, the "gifts", or whatever creative name it was called except a bribe, ranged from P200,000 to P500,000, where handed out in paper bags to congressmen and local government executives, right after a meeting where the President herself was present.

When the handing out of cash was exposed, the sinister nature of those gifts quickly became apparent when nobody came forward to take credit for that magnanimous act of generosity and everybody on the receiving end, save for a few who are still too ashamed to allow themselves to be identified and even less who actually admitted to receiving the cash, quickly denied being party to the handout.

Government agencies and offices that could have been possible sources of the money, have all denied being the generous donor of this ungodly amount that is roughly estimated to be in the vicinity of P120 million. The money came from somewhere, and no private individual or corporation has come forward to debunk the common belief that it came from the pockets of Filipino taxpayers.

It happened in her home, and it happened right after she left, so it is but natural to be linked with her. But apparently, even after her spokespeople have vehemently denied any connection to the mass bribery, this act which demeans the image of the Malacañang Palace as the home of Presidents of the Republic, has not enraged the sitting President enough for her to openly condemn it and assure the nation that a proper investigation will quickly follow.

This damning silence from the constantly embattled chief executive of this country has been more telling than all of the pronouncements and denials of the government officials who have been speaking for her and the politicians who were the beneficiaries of the mysterious cash windfall that fateful Thursday in Malacañang.*