Defensor’s Not-so-Astute Defense

Sometimes, timing is everything.  In the case of DENR Secretary Mike Defensor, he’s a bit off.  In disclosing an expert’s opinion that the “Hello Garci” tapes have been spliced, he draws attention back to something that was just about to leave the radar screens.  Unless, he’s been hiding under a rock the past few weeks, the current issue is the La Vista pay-offs and the impeachment, not the tapes.  I can understand Cong. Nograles’ irritation (a soundbyte had him doling out unsolicited advice for the DENR Secretary: “Stop politicking and get back to work!”).  The Congressional inquiry on the tapes was drawing to a close and Mike’s presscon just gave the committees a new lease on life.  More media attention, more scrutiny of the tapes, more debates about what the President allegedly said or did.  Take out those rings once more, the circus is about to start up again.

It’s like a bad dream you’re about to get out of were it not for that dose of demerol that sends you straight back to la-la land.  Which is were Nograles probably wishes Mike Defensor would just go. And stay.  Let the big boys handle this.  Go hug a tree or something.

He has a point though.  Mike’s defense - or what passes for it - is near useless.  In the first place, the President (in the minds of most people) already admitted that she was on the tape talking to Garci.  An assault on the tapes won’t change that.  In the second place, the President’s allies have always espoused the view that the law declares the tapes inadmissible in any proceeding for any purpose.  So, arguing the tape’s authenticity is a waste of time.  In the third place, the evidence he presents does not put to rest the authenticity of the tapes.  There will be, as usual, a debate about this.  Read the PCIJ’s take on Mike’s analysis.  The public perceives the tapes as authentic and the President not worthy of trust.  It’s not likely public perception will change because of this new evidence.  Although, Manolo Quezon has some observations worth noting.

In short, there is no legal, political or PR value to all of this.  To top it off, he’s making waves about yesterday’s news.  To paraphrase a Clinton campaign sign:   “It’s the impeachment, stupid!”