Senate readies arrest order vs Reyes, other broadband players

March 17, 2008

Another arrest order is in the offing in the Senate should businessman Ruben Reyes prove to be evasive in facing upper chamber probers looking into the botched ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) deal mess.Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said this yesterday as he issued a new set of subpoenas to Reyes, one of the members of the alleged “greedy gang” or “greedy four,” as well as several others who still refuse to yield themselves before the three investigating com-mittees despite repeated invitations.

In a press conference, Villar said he had ordered the deployment of Senate’s personnel to deliver the subpoenas he had just signed that day, to include one intended for Reyes, considered a crucial witness in the ZTE investigation being handled by the blue ribbon, trade and commerce and national defense committees.

“They’re still trying to track down these per-sonalities. There are those who could not be located. But after that, if all efforts fail, we have no choice but to issue an arrest order,” he said, adding the subpoenas were issued on Reyes, as well as the 14 police and airport officials who have yet to fully satisfy their questioning on the alleged alleged abduction of their so-called star witness, Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr.

Villar also expressed apprehension over the calls made by some colleagues in having the ZTE probe terminated, noting the fact that a number of personalities are still being lined up for appearance in the proceedings.

He, however, is amenable in the issuance of an interim or preliminary committee report, yet would rather have complete and thorough findings on the matter.

Villar also tossed the blame on the administration for whatever delays the Senate is experiencing in the handling of the ZTE probe especially with the filing of cases against those who stand as witness in the proceedings.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, for his part, reiterated his earlier suggestion for the blue ribbon committee to draft a preliminary report.

“We can have a preliminary report as to other matters and issues but a final report cannot be completed without (former National Economic Development Authority Director General Romulo) Neri’s testimony.

Hence a preliminary report can now be drafted but the hearings should be reopened as soon as Neri can be compelled to testify,” he said.

The lawmaker also urged the Supreme Court to resolve the case soonest. “With all due respect to the Supreme Court, until and unless our powers to cite a person in contempt and to arrest an uncooperative witness refusing to testify without justifiable grounds is resolved, the Senate has in reality become less than co-equal. We have been rendered ineffective within our jurisdiction,” he noted.

“Some SC justices correctly pointed out during the oral arguments that the SC should refrain from being a referee in resolving conflicts between the executive and the judiciary but it did so when it issued the status quo ante order. The case must be resolved soonest,” Pangilinan stressed.

He also asked Malacañang to refrain from commenting on the call for a preliminary report because its “comments do not help any and only make it more difficult for the release of the committee’s findings to gain support from my colleagues. Malacañang should back off,” Pangilinan stressed.

Other senators also slammed Palace’s criticisms against the chamber on its supposedly being unfair in the handling of the ZTE mess, saying the allegations of overpricing and bribery have been well substantiated by their witnesses, including businessman Leo San Miguel despite apparent efforts to cover up the role of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

In retaliation, Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. urged Press Secretary Bunye not to play deaf and blind to such ample evidence in the face of his sweeping criticism, considering the piles of testimonial and documentary evidence on the anomalous ZTE-NBN project that have surfaced in the series of their public hearings.

These clearly belie Malacañang’s claim that the Senate has mishandled the inquiry on the case, the opposition leader said.

Also, Pimentel added San Miguel had virtually admitted the participation of Abalos in the tainted transaction despite the witness’ attempt to conceal the former Comelec chief’s role.

“Sad to say, that’s a cockeyed view from Bunye. In fact the latest witness San Miguel, despite being evasive in his testimony, corroborated Abalos’ participation in the NBN-ZTE deal,” he said.

The minority leader reminded the Palace spokesman that the allegations of bribery and overpricing in the $329-million NBN-ZTE deal was first raised by businessman Jose de Venecia III which was only corroborated by two other witnesses, Lozada and Dante Madriaga, who both served as technical consultants to the project while the charges against Abalos was partly confirmed by Neri.

It was Madriaga who testified that Abalos was part of the so-called “greedy group” or “gang of four” that brokered the deal and identified identified the other members of the group as San Miguel, Reyes and retired Police Gen. Quirino de la Torre.

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II joined Pimentel in defending the Senate on the handling of the ZTE deal.

“How can they call it grandstanding when we at the Senate are helping in realizing the truth?” he asked.

By Angie M. Rosales

source: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080318hed4.html

Bookmark to: