| Arroyo scraps NBN deal but senators won’t scrap probe |
| Written by GMANews.TV | |||
| Wednesday, 03 October 2007 03:29 | |||
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Radio dzBB reported that senators maintained the scrapping of the deal should not shake off public focus from the irregularities that surrounded the deal, including bribery and bullying. President Arroyo reportedly told counterpart Hu Jintao in China Tuesday that she had decided to "scrap" the deal, and that it was a difficult decision. But with the scrapping of the deal, Malacañang said the Senate should end its investigation into the matter. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano said that instead of relaxing, senators should instead work double time in getting to the bottom of the deal. Cayetano said the Senate should piece together the events that led to the signing of the anomalous contract, and who was responsible for it. He said the Senate should make sure it comes up with legislation that makes sure future government contracts are above board, and satisfy the requirements of transparency and accountability. Cayetano's committee is one of three committees investigating the deal. The other two are the defense committee under Rodolfo Biazon and the trade committee under Manuel Roxas II. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, whose privilege speech triggered the Senate investigation, said he is heartened that the probe helped "save" taxpayers billions of pesos. But he said the investigation must continue so those responsible for the irregularities will be "unmasked and punished." Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said the scrapping of the deal is a victory of sorts for the people against a "white elephant." "May ilang katanungan. Bakit ito naaprubahan in the first place, bakit ang daming patakarang mukhang sinagasaan at sinantabi? (There are still questions left unanswered. Why was it approved in the first place and why was it allowed to violate so many guidelines)?" he said in an interview on dzXL radio. He said the Senate will have to decide whether to invite other resource persons, including First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. Former socio-economic planning secretary Romulo Neri, in his appearance at the Senate last week, had said Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos offered him a P200-million bribe to push the ZTE deal. However, Neri refused to talk on President Arroyo's role in the deal, repeatedly invoking executive privilege. Businessman Jose de Venecia III said Abalos also offered him a bribe to step aside. De Venecia III heads Amsterdam Holdings Inc., which lost in the bidding for the NBN deal. De Venecia, son of House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, also said Mr Arroyo threatened him by telling him to "back off" during a meeting in Mandaluyong City. Pangilinan said the Senate wants to find out if the "back off" incident was indeed a chance encounter as claimed by Abalos and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza. "There are some questions na kinakailangang maitanong para malaman natin ano ba talaga ang papel niya rito (There are some questions we have to ask to get to the bottom of this scandal)," he said. - GMANews.TV
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Special Topics ZTE Deal Arroyo scraps NBN deal but senators won’t scrap probe
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