Senators oppose ZTE probe end; Cayetano backs off

April 30, 2008

With most of the senators expressing stiff opposition to Senate blue ribbon chairman Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s announced plan to “wrap up” the investigation of the ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) project in a week’s time, with a report to be submitted by the three panels, the blue ribbon chairman yesterday backed off from his plan to end the probe, saying instead that he was misunderstood by the media and what he had in mind was merely to issue a preliminary report.

A round of fierce debates is seen to ensue if Cayetano’s plan is to be pursued, as a number of senators are resisting the idea, keeping issues pending before the Supreme Court (SC) hanging such as the question on the invocation of executive privilege of Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairman Romulo Neri.

Also pending before the SC is a petition filed by Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr. for the Senate to be furnished with the National Economic Development Authority’s (Neda) minutes of meeting supposedly showing the agency’s original position against the broadband project.

This early, Cayetano is already engaged in a clash with opposition

Sen. Panfilo Lacson who chastised him for the planned move, saying that the upper chamber should await the SC decisions on the pending cases while also pointing out that they are not lacking on the issue of availability of witnesses in continuing with the proceedings.

No less than Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. himself said it would be better to wait for the resolution of the cases pending before the SC, before terminating the ZTE proceedings.

“I think it would be premature to say whether we want to see a report or not at this time. I think, if the three committees will issue recommendations, that would reflect the sentiments of almost all of the members of the Senate,” he said in an interview with reporters.

Villar said he respects the decision of each of the committee chairman handling the investigation and will see for himself whether the termination of the probe is justifiable.

“I have not been consulted on this and I know they will consult me before coming out with the report. As far as I know, if at all, it will be a partial report,” said Villar.

Cayetano’s co-chairmen in the probe, Roxas who leads the trade and commerce panel and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon of the defense committee, are of the position that an interim report should be made and allow a continuation of the proceedings, if needed.

Biazon said the matter of establishing direct links of President Arroyo to the alleged anomalies surrounding the botched $329 million ZTE contract may prove to be a tough task, there is pertinent information implying purported liability of the Chief Executive and other Palace officials, given the testimony of Neri on supposed P200 million bribe try on him.

“I think if we have to submit a report at this time, it should be an interim (report). If additional information is to be presented, then we can re-open the probe. But I have no serious objection to the continuance of the hearings if there are available new information or evidence,” Biazon said in a separate interview.

“It may be high time to come up with an interim report, this does not mean an end into the ZTE proceedings. We all know that the Executive barred the appearance of a number of witnesses and we have made petitions before the SC on this. These are all public records and I think it’s only proper that the public and the Senate be given an answer to these issues, for us to ascertain whether to continue with the hearings.

Roxas seconded Cayetano on the matter of their probe failing to come up with a direct testimony linking Mrs. Arroyo, only insinuating her probably liability.

“That is an accurate reflection of the record but there are clearly other circumstances and other events that would lead one to believe that Malacañang, the Executive, the President clearly influenced or clearly had some say as to the direction of the transaction as well as the approval of the transaction. That is why it is important that we be furnished these documents from NEDA,” said Roxas.

But Malacañang officials took to heart yesterday the announcement of Cayetano that virtually absolved Mrs. Arroyo, and predicted that the President will be cleared and vindicated once the Senate blue ribbon committee releases in two weeks time its committee report on the controversial NBN-ZTE scandal.

Both Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo and secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo, now CSC chief, said that they were not surprised at the recent admission of Cayetano that their probe on the controversy did not produce any direct link to President Arroyo, although it might implicate others from the executive department .

“It’s a vindication of the national leadership. Even if we listen to all the interviews in the Senate, there really is no evidence whatsoever linking the President,” Ermita said.

Fajardo for her part pushed the closure of the matter and reminded the critics of the efforts made by Mrs. Arroyo to resolve the controversy.

“The preliminary report as expected was no surprise. The testimonies as presented were pure conjecture and in most cases hearsay. We hope that puts to rest any further questions on the culpability of the President. She has acted purely on national interest, canceling the contract to protect the interest of the people… that is her on direct hand on said project… its time to put our resources and focus on the present concerns of our people,” Fajardo said.

Meanwhile, Saludo said that the Senate must already turn over the issue to the Court of Appeals, Ombudsman or Department of Justice (DoJ) so proper probe and decision could be conducted.

“The Senate’s NBN report should shift attention to the Court of Appeals, the Ombudsman and the Justice department. Their non partisan, due process hearings on NBN and related issues have strict rules of evidence,questioning of witnesses by expert lawyers and sanctions on those proven guilty,” Saludo said.

Administration lawmakers yesterday reveled in the statement issued by Cayetano that he had found no evidence incriminating Mrs. Arroyo.

They however, criticized him for his plan to issue a committee report on the probe on a piece meal basis.

Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor, chair of the House committee on justice, said Cayetano’s plan would again attract the attention of the public to the Senate.

“The plan of the Senate to come up with a report by instalment, beginning with an interim report, points to a striptease in the making. The idea is there for all to see: Unravel it piece by piece so the public’s attention will be riveted to the Senate,” Defensor said yesterday.

Kampi Rep. Rodito Albano III of Isabela said administration coalition members expect the Senate to come up with a complete committee report on its investigation in order to put a closure to the ZTE-NBN controversy.

“We knew from the start that the President is not involved in the ZTE-NBN controversy. Once the committee report is out and it says that the President is not directly involved in the mess, it’s a vindication on her part that we should all respect,” Albano said.

Another lawmaker, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said he does not see the wisdom in making a piece meal report.

“I don’t see any logic in making public the committee report in chop-chop fashion,” said Puentevella. “What’s the agenda? Propaganda.”

by: Angie M. Rosales, Sherwin C. Olaes, Gerry Baldo and Charlie V. Manalo

source : http://tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080501hed3.html

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