The ‘kaibigan,’ once again

The man in Malacañang has done it again. In his desire to protect or defend his allies, he blurs the line between what is legal and what is not. After condoning the unauthorized entry of an underling into the residence of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, he furnished the money to bail out a Comelec commissioner in a criminal case for graft against her. He justifies his act with the simplistic statement that he believes that the official in question is innocent of the charge.

Mr. Aquino completely misses the point. Grace Padaca, as a member of the Commission on Elections, will be involved in the sensitive task of overseeing next year’s elections. Will not the favor extended to her, by no less than the head of a political party that will be fielding candidates in the elections, compromise the independence of that member?

Our penal code prohibits the giving of gifts to a public officer by reason of his or her office. If Padaca was just an ordinary citizen, would the giver have been as generous? These are questions that should be answered.

—MARIO GUARINA III,

retired Court of Appeals justice,

Sao Paolo Street, Better Living,

Parañaque City