I read the voluminous Senate report on the ZTE-NBN deal and I must agree with Ramon Tulfo---it exposed the conspiracy of ALL ZTE-NBN actors, most notably the losing bidders and the deal cookers. I must agree with Senator Richard Gordon that the actors in this deal are all demons in barong.

It was a collusion meant to defraud government of billions of pesos worth of taxpayer's money. The loser in this deal was ZTE Corporation, which, says Joey de Venecia III, lost almost a billion pesos when they reportedly gave grease money to certain government officials.

Based on the report, the project was a laudable project, meant to develop the telecommunications infrastructure of the Philippines. The NEDA approved the project and the DOTC was the lead agency implementor.

The DOTC found a suitable tech partner in the person of ZTE Corporation, China's biggest supplier of telecomms equipment and gadgets. ZTE Corporation dealt with the DOTC officials. However, under the law, such projects should have been bidded out instead of a negotiated sale. On this part, the DOTC erred.

The bidding was just for show because at the onset, government intended really to give ZTE the project. Some "arrangements" were initiated, one of which was convincing Amsterdam Holdings local representative Joey de Venecia III to take part in the charade and just team up with ZTE. Or just, clam up, as what former COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos told the young De Venecia. Or "back-off" as what principal government mafia head First Gentleman Mike Arroyo said.

It seems that De Venecia III disagreed because Amsterdam Holdings want the whole pie and not a portion of it. Who would agree for 500 million pesos when you can get as much as US$ 1 BILLION for this deal? So, the younger De Venecia took on a war footing and exposed the nefarious deal before the media. That strategy backfired in the end, because everyone lost the project altogether.

De Venecia III says that he prevented the deal from happening but the transcripts say otherwise. What De Venecia III actually wanted was for the government to re-bid the project, not to shelve it. There is a gulf of difference between re-bidding and "shelving". Government opted to shelve it to shield it from further political harm.

De Venecia III did not cause the shelving of the project out of genuine concern for the people's money nor did he accomplished the feat independently without commercial compunction. The expose was actually an attempt meant to harm the winning bidders, not to protect the people's money.

For that, says the report, De Venecia III deserves to be charged with graft.

On the part of Jun Lozada, he was an unwilling witness. He just went ballistic when he felt that government was abandoning him or was intending to harm him. He cannot be a saint also since he was part of those who cooked the deal from the start. He uttered the immortal line " bubukol ito" because the "commissions" went out of line already. A commission which involved billions of pesos is simply too risky and too obvious not to be noticed. As Lozada said, it was "too greasy."Hence the other immortal line, " Moderate the Greed."

What Lozada just meant to say was it is okey to be greedy but just in "moderation", never beyond the obvious. For Lozada, corruption has its limits. Now, he knows that everything corrupt is graft. If you intend to steal even a centavo out of the people's money, that's corruption and greediness already. There is no borderline for corruption. There is only corruption and no corruption, period. But for the ZTE-NBN greedy bunch, commissions totalling multi-millions are allowable.

And it was probably God's intention that the oust Gloria movement during those times did not take off simply because it was again, premised on a wrong presumption. EDSA two was a misinterpretation and a result of cono class animosity over institutional gangsterism. If the coup succeeded in ousting Gloria in 2008, the results would still be a failure of democracy. We would have gone to the streets to protect the moderates in the corruption business, which, for me, again, is not a genuine cause for revolutions.

The AIM Policy Center, a so-called think tank, has joined the fray of elite groups, calling for the abolition of E.O. 839. The Policy Center says that within a week, foreign investors will abandon ship and leave. Firms are losing money, the Center says, so many of them are leaving.

Crap. I say, let these foreign firms leave and see who will shed copious tears in the end.

And I pity the AIM Policy Center for allowing themselves to be used by oil giants in pressuring government to repeal or lift the Executive Order.

Cge nga, let's call the bluff of this Center. I urge Malacanang to further extend the E.O. and see if indeed, all foreign investors will leave this country.

This is one fight that deserves the support of the people. Should Malacanang finally decides to lift this, then, the People, the Masses, have to go to the streets and struggle.

Mrs. Arroyo deserves all the support of the people in this.

Finally, after thirteen gruelling Senate sessions, the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon released its report on the ZTE-NBN deal. The deal, if you remember, was rescinded by the Arroyo administration due to some "anomalous" issues. The deal involves transforming the entire government system into an IT based, broadband system.

One of the proponents of the deal, Joey de Venecia III, came out of the woodwork and said that the deal was given to a Chinese corporation, ZTE, under scandalous circumstances. According to De Venecia III, there was no bidding, just a negotiated bid. ZTE officials reportedly colluded with DOTC officials, led by DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza, Elmer Soneja and others to give the deal to the Chinese. Former COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos also dipped his fingers into the deal.

De Venecia III said it was First Gentleman Mike Arroyo who cooked the deal. Mrs. Arroyo's name was dragged into the controversy after former NEDA chief Romulo Neri revealed to her that Abalos was trying to goad him to support the project.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his wife, Mrs. Arroyo played golf with ZTE officials in Shenzhen Golf Club shortly before the signing of the contract. However, in the contract signing, which Mrs. Arroyo and then Chief of Staff Michael Defensor attended, DOTC officials reportedly lost the copy of the contract.

A newspaper columnist wrote about the deal and the losing bidder, Joey de Venecia III's Amsterdam Holdings, had a press conference. After the press con, the stinking deal got worse.

Jun Lozada, a close in of former NEDA chief became involved when he was "exiled" in Hongkong to prevent him from exposing the deal. When he came back, police escorts reportedly tried to silence him. He was "saved" my La Sallian nuns.

Lozada, De Venecia and Neri appeared before the Senate. After thirteen sessions, the Senate released the report.

Dear Madame Arroyo:

This is just my fifth letter to you and the first four letters, I was greatly satisfied. You, through your spokespersons, responded positively to my appeals in this site. For that, I am greatly humbled.

Now, I have just one request and proposal about this so-called OIL SHORTAGE BOGEY that these OIL companies together with their local government LACKEYS and PUBLIC SUPPORTERS want us to believe.

First, time to ask Energy secretary Angelo Reyes to retire. He's causing so much panic and fear for and on behalf of these giant oil companies that it is time for Reyes to leave public service. What he's doing is public DISSERVICE. Best for him to just sit at the board of one of these oil giants.

Second, if you can't ask for his head, ask him to take DRASTIC ACTION. Ask him to use his brain and brawn as a former GENERAL and tell these oil firms to TOE THE LINE or else. Mobilize him immediately and tell him to TAKEOVER ALL THESE OIL FIRMS.

Third, make everything legal by DECLARING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY and TAKEOVER ALL THESE OIL FIRMS. They cannot do anything about it because it is TOTALLY CONSTITUTIONAL.

What is the prime duty of the Government? Let me quote Sec. 4, Article II of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines which states that the primary duty of the Government, " is to serve and protect the People." What else? Under Sec. 5, it is

"the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty AND PROPERTY and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy."

Right now, the people are being threatened by HIGH PRICES which UNDER A STATE OF NATIONAL CALAMITY and ECONOMIC CRISIS, we, the People cannot really cope with. I, myself, am financially distressed because of these high prices. Last night, in fact, some gas stations refused to sell diesel to me.

High prices are caused by excessive MONOPOLISTIC ACTIONS of private companies and enterprises. One of those which acts like a MONOPOLY is the OIL GIANTS, led by PETRON, SHELL and CALTEX.

Monopoly is prohibited under Sec. 19 of Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, which states, and I quote:

" The State shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires. No combinatins in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed."

Under Sec. 17, of Article XII, the state is empowered to act accordingly and takeover enterprises under a state of national emergency. Let me state it clearly:

In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest.

Section 18, of the same Article, it states:

 "in the interest of national welfare or defense, establish and operate vital industries, and upon payment of just compensation, transfer to public ownership utilities and other private enterprises to be operated by Government."

Act with dispatch Madame President.

If these oil companies threaten us and are creating this OIL SUPPLY SHORTAGE BOGEY, let GOVERNMENT take over. If these companies are hoping that you'll back down, DO NOT.

This is now, a matter of grave security concern. This is a direct test of the powers of the government, particularly the Executive. If you back down on this, people will start believing that you are a LAME DUCK President already---not good for your public image and definitely, not helpful if you want to run as Congressman or Vice President.

Think about it. These oil firms are causing DESTABILIZATION. Time to cut their horns.