''To think that nothing is wrong is a defense mechanism that's called denial and is used by some people who want to continue with their daily lives and don't want to face the facts,'' Pacheco told the media last week.

He was talking about his predecessor and now former OAS Secretary General Miguel Angel Rodríguez, who resigned Friday.

But when he spoke, Pacheco might as well have been talking about the whole country.

''It's not very effective,'' the president continued, as if he were speaking of a patient, "because the reality always catches up to the person in spite of his denial.''

Costa Rica has long painted itself as the cleanest, safest and least corrupt of the Latin American family.

And why not?

Transparency International, the independent organization that tracks graft around the world, consistently ranks it above its neighbors.

Guidebooks and foreign governments alike tout the country's hospitality, development and high literacy rate.

Peace and civility are a matter of pride here.

It's one of the few countries in the world without a standing army and has regularly hosted peace talks throughout the war-stricken region. Former President Oscar Arias won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to forge peace in Central America.

''Costa Rica is a Central American success story.'' The Central Intelligence Agency's World Fact book beams. "Only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. . . . The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.''

But those who know it well understand that there are two truths about this small nation of four million people.

Costa Ricans, when they go abroad, they present themselves as clean-living, the Switzerland of Latin America. But while they're here, they're all well aware that corruption is going on.

Anyone who has done business with the government knows that kickbacks and bribes are part of the costs.

While most Costa Ricans are aware that corruption if going on and a way of life, they still seem surprised when it is publicized.

Most people expressed shock and surprise at the news of former president Miguel Angel Rodríguez accepting a kickback. No matter if Rodríguez is guilty of any wrongdoing or not, most Costa Ricans now know what they knew was true all along about Rodríguez.

In addition to the charges against Rodríguez, former President Rafael Angel Calderón is also facing accusations of corruption.

Calderón has been barred from leaving the country, and there are already several public officials in jail. One of them, a former cabinet minister for Rodríguez, provided the key testimony against his old boss that was leaked to the media and jump-started his scandal.

The count is two on former presidents. Could there be more? And what about out current president, Abel Pacheco, who has to be admired for  taking a strong stance against Rodríguez.

Pacheco, when all the smoke clears over the Rodríguez, will be facing questions about contributions to his electoral campaign in 2002 -- $500,000 from Taiwan and $100,000 from Alcatel, the same French firm linked to the Rodríguez allegations.

Many Costa Ricans feels feel deceived by their politicians. The scandals are not only affecting the public's perception of government officials, but more, they re-confirming what was known all along, but not talked about.

A CID Gallup poll published by the newspaper La Republica this week showed that 90 percent of those polled said they did not trust any politicians. In another poll commissioned by Demoscopia and the daily Al Día, 64 percent of the respondents said they would not vote for any member of the current political parties.

University students are planning  a march on Tuesday to protest the recent revelations of graft.