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ERAP'S LITTLE PRESIDENT
This was, undoubtedly, one of the most controversial subjects to hit Nemenzo during his incumbency, a burning issue that died a natural death but left so many questions unanswered.
Last January, at the height of the call for deposed President Joseph "Erap' Estrada's ouster, almost the entire UP community braved the streets once again to show their support. But the one man who was expected to lead the university was nowhere to be found. Or to be more precise about it, this "unrepentant Marxist" reacted a little bit too late, so his critics say.
According to Asa, it was last January 18, a Thursday, that Nemenzo joined the ranks of students and other sectors of the university in pressing for Erap's resignation. In his previous statements to the press, Asa said that Nemenzo did not really have a stand on the issue.
"Malinaw sa alaala ko ang pahayag niya noong ika-18: 'I think everybody knows my position on this matter. I initially suspended judgment on this issue.' Hindi masasabing naninindigan dahil itinulak lang ng malawak na pagkilos ng taumbayan," (I could still recall what he said last January 18... he did not really have a stand but he was only persuaded by the mass demonstrations...) he said.
Asa lambasted Nemenzo's statement in an issue of FORUM last October, which can be recalled as the height of Chavit Singson's expose on Erap. "Siya pa mismo ang nagkalat ng ilusyon na mayroon pang maka-Estrada sa UP noong panahong iyon. Na para bang hindi pa napag-isipan... ang kanyang tanong na 'Should President Estrada resign or forced out of office by impeachment or coup d'etat?...If he should stay, what steps must he take to rebuild our shattered economy and system of governance?" (...He even proliferated the illusion that there were still pro-Erap groups in UP...)
The issue of Nemenzo's alleged reactionary and passive stance, however, eventually simmered down as the university had to face other matters such as the budget freeze. But the questions still remained. What prompted Nemenzo to "suspend judgment?" Was there more than meets the eye between him and Erap?
According to Jose Endriga, Vice President for Public Affairs, Nemenzo is a man of strong conviction who "would not give an inch when he is on solid ground."
"He believed that he should not speak for UP because different groups have different perspectives on the issue," Endriga said. He added that Nemenzo simply encouraged the expression of opinions by all groups in the campus.
But there were rumors that Nemenzo and Erap maintained a relationship that is more than professional. Some quarters asserted that they were close friends back when Erap was still a Senator. A source even claimed that his friend once saw Nemenzo and Erap guzzling whiskey in a bar in San Juan when the former was still Vice-President of the republic.
Vice-President for Administration Martin Gregorio does not deny the alleged friendship, though. "Magkaibigan sila ni Erap, pero hindi naman very, very close. Nung Senator pa si Erap, he (Nemenzo) gave him pointers as a lawmaker." (He and Erap were friends although they were not that close. He used to give Erap pointers as a lawmaker when the latter was still Senator.)
"I asked him once as to why he did not issue any statement. But I did not press him for an answer. Siguro, binabalanse lang ni Dodong yung mga favors na ninigay ni Erap." (...Maybe he was just taking into consideration all the favors that Erap gave him.)
He mentioned that Erap condoned the interest of UP's P200 million loan from the Social Security System (SSS) which amounted to around P600 million.
"And then there was also no promotions for quite sometime sa UP. Lapit siya ulit kay Erap, and he was given P200 million," Gregorio disclosed.
"Erap really liked him. Let's face it. No President of the Philippines is not interested in poking his nose sa Republic of Diliman. At ang hubad na katotohanan, five yung appointed ni Erap sa Board of Regents (BOR) plus two ex-officio."
Faculty Regent Marita Reyes, meanwhile, said that she had the impression that Nemenzo was torn in making his decision. "Hindi siya kumibo kaagad. Maybe he had a hard time juxtaposing the real Erap and the Erap-image which he helped developed."
But in spite of all the criticisms that were hurled against Nemenzo, these people still believed that their president was only being democratic and steadfast in his beliefs.
For Endriga, he was an "everybody's President," in the sense that he did not dismiss the dissenting opinions, if there were any, held by some groups in UP. "His was a stand that can be taken only by a true leader of an organization."
"Nemenzo," added Gregorio, "was never afraid to make a decision no matter how controversial the issue may be. He is very committed to his beliefs and convictions even if he knew that the attacks can become a bit too personal."
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