Senator urges filing of raps vs. Abalos on ZTE deal
SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE—Sen. Richard Gordon yesterday urged President Macapagal-Arroyo to direct the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice to file cases against former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. and others involved in the scrapped national broadband deal.
The senator said the government should also seek the help of the Chinese government to shed light on the involvement of the Chinese ZTE Corp. and Philippine government officials in the alleged multi-million-dollar bribery scandal.
"There's corroborating evidence against Abalos. There's (also) circumstantial evidence," Gordon told reporters after speaking at the commemorative rites marking the 22nddeath anniversary of former Antique Gov. Evelio Javier.
The senator said the President should not wait for the Senate investigation to be completed before directing the investigation and filing of cases.
Gordon said the testimony of Rodolfo Lozada Jr., former technical consultant to the NBN deal, had strengthened the evidence against Abalos.
"I'm happy that he (Lozada) is coming out. Now we have a bigger case against Abalos. (Former National Economic Development Authority and now Commission on Education Chair Romulo) Neri has (also) a lot to explain," he said.
But Gordon said Lozada should have surfaced and said what he knew about the deal earlier.
He did not include First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo as among those that should be investigated and charged, saying all statements allegedly linking Arroyo to the controversial are "hearsay" and would not stand in courts.
Lozada and Jose de Venecia III have testified that Abalos brokered the overpriced ZTE project and offered a bribe. They have also linked the First Gentleman to the deal.
"It's (allegation against Arroyo) still hearsay. But perception is even worse that reality," said Gordon.
Gordon who recalled the integrity, moral courage and dedication to public service of the slain former governor of Antique, called on the President to stop making "allowances" to people around her.
"She is cowed by the fear of being deposed by the powers of Estrada and his cohorts. She does certain things that she should not be doing. She has to make allowances to people around here," said Gordon.
He said Abalos should have been removed from his post by the President a long time ago.
"But I suppose there's a lot of things owed to Abalos." He failed to elaborate on this statement.
He cited the presidential pardon granted to deposed President Joseph Estrada as among the "allowances" granted by the President.
"Most presidents will have those allowances but they have to lead. They have to transform society… They cannot engage in the old paradigms of transaction," said Gordon.
He also called on the President to "lead and forget everything (else)."
"It's kind of hard because everybody is now questioning her credibility especially the First Gentleman. But nonetheless, you are president until the end of your term or when you are impeached. It's never too late to fix up this nation," said Gordon.
Gordon said the Philippine government should seek the help of the Chinese government in investigating the scrapped NBN deal.
He said this could be done through diplomatic channels or backdoor negotiations.