Abalos Resigns

Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. Salamat at dumalo kayo dito sa press conference na ipinatawag ko upang mai-pahayag sa ating kababayan ang kabuuan ng niluloob ko patungkol sa mga isyu at kontrobersiya na isinasangkot ang aking pagkatao at ngayon ay nakaka-apekto ng hindi lamang sa trabaho at katungkulan ko bilang Chairman ng COMELEC kundi pati na ang pribasiya, katahimikan at iba pang karapatan ng aking pamilya.

It has been almost a week since I appeared at the Senate Committees investigating the NBN Project. I did so against the advise of my counsel and closest of friends, driven by what I expected would be the inherent fairness of a Senate inquiry and the statesmanship of our Senators.

I was sorely mistaken. I was not treated fairly. My declarations were limited to only those that most of my interrogators wanted to hear.

In these few days of reflection and consultation I’ve had with my family and closest friends, I have come to the painful determination that the time has come to separate my person from the office I now occupy, and the institution I head.

I am resigning the Chairmanship of the COMELEC effective immediately.

Let not my detractors feast on this declaration. I am not admitting guilt for any wrongdoing. Neither am I giving up on my crusade to clear my name and reputation. I made this decision to spare the COMELEC from the vicious maliciously concocted attacks on my person. On the 29th of this month we will have another election. It is my intention that with my resignation today I shall have detached the COMELEC from the controversy in which my person is currently embroiled.

In the same way, my resignation should dispel the claims of my detractors that I am dangling so-called “political debts” dispensed when I was supposedly “king” during election period as a shield to fend off moves to oust me from office.

And finally, my resignation negates the accusation that this Administration is out to protect me and my incumbency.

40 years ago, I entered public service fired with the ideals of promoting the welfare of our people and placing public interest above mine at all times. It is for this very reason that I have resigned, subordinating my personal interest in completing the last few months of my term to the higher public interest of saving Congress from engaging in a complicated and long-drawn out impeachment process that would inevitably take its toll on the nation.

I take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in the government for the mentoring, the assistance and the comfort they have given me in my years in public service. Their thoughts and goodwill have become the founding elements of the wisdom that I bear as I return to private life.

I wish to thank likewise, my family, friends and most especially the people of Mandaluyong. I thank them for bearing with me, for the aid and comfort they have given me through all these years, particularly during these trying times.

I must repeat, however, that I have not given up the fight. Having rid myself of the impression of using my office for personal ends and the burden of keeping my office and the COMELEC away from the vicious attacks on my person, I am all the more determined to carry on my crusade to clear my name and reputation and exposing the lies and malicious claims thrown at me.

Sa aking pamamaalam sa serbisyo publiko, ay naroon ang aking pananalig na anumang haba ng gabi, ay mayroong bukang-liwayway. Sa patnubay at gabay ng ating Maykapal, malaki ang aking pananalig na tayo’y muling magkikita, taas-noo, sa bagong umaga.

(As I bow out of public service, I find comfort in the thought that at the end of even the longest of nights, the dawn will break. With the grace of the Almighty, I am confident that I shall see you once again, head unbowed, at daybreak.)

Maraming salamat po.

Can you say ‘surprise move?’