Witness ‘Alex’ missing; NBN probe to push on with ‘Joe’

May 19, 2008

All too suddenly, ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) scam witness, known only by his alias “Alex,” has gone missing, according to his handler Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico who only a week ago claimed that Alex was being guided by him to recognize the pressure styles of Malacañang while in a safehouse Suplico had arranged.

Yesterday, the opposition vice governor suddenly informed media that his witness had gone missing and that he has not been able to get in touch with Alex, in a broad hint that his witness would not be testifying before the Senate.

But opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson appeared unfazed by the missing witness, saying even if Alex is no longer going to testify, the hearing will go on, as there is still another witness whom he called “Joe” who can testify on the Shenzhen visit.

“It is not only Alex who was present during that golf side trip in Shenzen,” he pointed out. “There were others present,” he said, stressing that threats against witnesses are “normal” and that the threat to their security is real, which is why the (Senate) witnesses should be provided protection.

For its part, Malacañang yesterday said it had nothing to do with the new witness and junked the allegation of Suplico that the government has been harassing “lex.”

In a radio interview, deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the matter is only a creation of Suplico’s imagination since it is not the policy of the government to harass anybody.

“It is not the government’s business to threaten or harass anyone. Maybe, it’s just his (Suplico) imagination,” Golez said.

Aside from this, both Golez and co-palace spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said the Palace does not even know the identity of the new witness.

“We do not know the witness, in the first place and it is not the policy of the government to harass anyone. We are a democratic nation and we respect everyone’s rights,” Fajardo said.

Pressed on reports that the new witness, identified only with an alias “Alex” will allegedly appear and testify before the Senate to implicate President Arroyo in the scandal, Fajardo said,”I hope they (opposition) will not be surprised again on what the witness would say,” referring to the last–minute change of heart of previous NBN witness Leo San Miguel which shocked opposition Senator Lacson.

Suplico earlier revealed that the new witness allegedly told him that “suspicious-looking men” have been seen around their neighborhood and were asking about his identity.

The new witness had provided Suplico several photos showing The President and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo with officials of ZTE Corp. in a golf game in Shenzen, China last Nov. 2, 2006. five months before the contract for the ZTE-NBN deal was signed. Earlier, Malacañang said it saw nothing wrong in the photos and admitted that the golf game was just a pure “social activity” by the chief executive and that no discussion on the deal transpired.

Meanwhile, the Senate will proceed with the reopening of its inquiry into the overpriced and kickback laden ZTE NBN deal, with or without the new witness who surfaced recently, directly implicating the First Couple over alleged irregularities in the transaction.

Lead prober, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano announced this yesterday amid reports insinuating that “Alex” is now claimed to be seriously considering withdrawing from testifying before the three committees investigating the botched ZTE deal.

“Yes (we will proceed with the resumption of the probe) because, remember my statement before that (we will continue with the proceedings) if there is either a new witness or substantial evidence that will come out.

“This (report on the) pictures alone and his admission (of being there with the First Couple) is enough reason for us. We could explore from this plus there are those whom we have called and have yet to testify before us,” Cayetano, blue ribbon committee chair, said.

“But I’m not working on the assumption that Alex will not come out. I’m still working on the assumption, still hopeful, that he will come here,” he said in an interview.

The new witness, reports said, can attest to the presence of Mrs. Arroyo and her spouse when they made a side trip to meet and play golf with ZTE executives in Shenzhen, China from Hong Kong, where they were then staying.

At that time, the NBN project was still being negotiated, by ZTE and other telecommunications companies seeking to bag the contact, such as the Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) of businessman Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, son of Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., then still Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Cayetano admitted that apprehensions over the security of the new witness are barring him from coming out in the open but the senator said there is still a strong chance that he would still appear before the Senate panels once he calls for a public hearing.

“I remain hopeful that nothing will change in our plans, in his plans of unveiling himself to the public. But we anticipated this, that he will have second thoughts or withdraw plans even before the actual holding of the proceedings. Whether or not he testifies, he already has provided us needed additional information by presenting these pictures. I think there’s public pressure on his part and good intention to proceed with his appearance. It would be better if we hear it straight from the horse’s mouth,” he said.

Unless “Alex” decides with finality not to appear before them, Cayetano said they could summon other personalities who could affirm the veracity of claims on meeting of the First Couple and ZTE executives in China, in the person of those like Gina de Venecia, wife of Rep. De Venecia or even the former Speaker himself, should he agree to appear before the Senate.

“If the former Speaker is willing to attend, we welcome that idea. Whoever was in that supposed meeting, we will invite them to the hearing,” said Cayetano.

“We’d prefer to have those who was inside (closed-door meeting with ZTE officials),” he added.

The senator said he will meet this week with Suplico to map up plans for the hearing that could take place either end of this week or early next week. With Sherwin C. Olaes and Tribune wires

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