Malaya Newspaper
Opinion, June 14, 2004

By: Ducky Paredes

Nene Pimentel has a defender in our constant pen pal, Anna Hill of Brussels, Belgium: "Isn't it ironic that when Pimentel sided with the anti-Erap elitists and the Erap impeachers in Congress, he was hailed a hero; so, why the turn-around today? Is it because the elitists in Congress and elsewhere realize they don't own him, they can't buy him, they can't bamboozle him into doing what they want him to do.

"The elitists insist that Gloria won this election fair and square... Well, I beg to differ. I'll try to be a bit more diplomatic: A presidential election is war. There is no such thing as fair and square in war. To win a presidential election war, one must be a trapo par excellence. Gloria lovers will agree with me that Gloria is not dumb and would have used all tactics known to any living trapo to win this war.

"Now less diplomatically: Bullocks! Gloria did not win this election fair and square. Pimentel knows that. So to the Pimentel bashing folks, let's get real! 

"Why so uptight about Pimentel? What unforgivable crime has he committed? Filibustering in Congress you say? Nah! Of course not! He supported FPJ! That was an unpardonable offense, a crime of lese majeste! FPJ, a mere actor, a man without a doctorate? Why, shame on Pimentel!

"Don't these high-caliber and magisterial members of the ruling coalition including the media technocrats realize that Pimentel's democratic act could be Gloria's saving grace? That, when all is said and done, Gloria will finally be able to claim 'legitimacy' thanks to Pimentel's search for the true vote count. So why bash Pimentel? 

"In all his dealings with the Filipino people, with the members of Congress and the elite, was Pimentel ever vulgar? Was he ever indecent? Did he ever break his word of honor? Was he ever a traitor to the country? Did he ever steal votes or do a Jose Pidal? Did he lie to the public, to his colleagues, to you, to me? Did he subvert the Philippine Constitution? Did he malign any of the 'honorable members' of Congress by calling them objectionable names? Did he commit any blasphemy? Did he 'doctor' his SAL?

"Do those non-filibustering members of Congress and so-called civil society now say that he is wrong because he did one or all of those things? If he has done any of those things, they may be right! The more than 10 million people who voted for him are perhaps morons. 

"Should Pimentel prove rotten as many bashers today say he is, trust in the infinite wisdom of the Filipino voters for there will be a day of reckoning (and this is also true for the forthcoming Gloria 'I will not run in 2004' Macapagal leadership). Nene will have to face the wrath of those 10 million voters and more."

I sometimes allow myself the luxury of being critical of Nene Pimentel but, Anna, you are right about Nene's uprightness and integrity.