Lozada to tesify vs Neri in NBN-ZTE scam By Charlie V. Manalo 06/01/2010

Lozada to tesify vs Neri in NBN-ZTE scam

By Charlie V. Manalo 06/01/2010 National Broadband Network (NBN-ZTE) whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada will be summoned to testify as the principal witness in the $329-million botched NBN deal against former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos before the Sandiganbayan. This was after the Office of the Ombudsman had filed formal charges of graft against Abalos and Neri before the Sandiganbayan. The Ombudsman cleared President Arroyo and her spouse, First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, however. The reason given by the Ombudsman in clearing Arroyo was that as she is the sitting president, she cannot be sued. But the Ombudsman failed to explain why the presidential spouse was absolved, since it was evident that he was present in China playing golf with the ZTE officials, as well as the recounting of Joey de Venecia that the presidential spouse, in the company of Abalos, told him (De Venecia) to back off. The presidential spouse does not have any immunity from suit. Ironically, Neri is Lozada’s former boss. And if Lozada is to be believed, it was Neri who had asked him to review the NBN-ZTE contract. Two separate pieces of information had been lodged against Neri and Abalos in relation to their involvement in the NBN-ZTE anomaly both for violation of Section 3 (h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In the said documents, the Office of the Ombudsman, signed and approved by Overall Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, recommended bail for the temporary liberty of the two accused in the amount of P30 thousand each. Aside from Lozada, other witnesses to the NBN-ZTE deal would be Neri himself against Abalos, along with Joey de Venecia, son of former Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., and columnist Jarius Bondoc. It will be recalled that Lozada disclosed before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that Neri knows a lot about the contract and stressed that Neri holds the key as to whether or not President Arroyo and the First Gentleman meddled in the said contract.... MORE   Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100601hed2.html

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