It was nearly three years ago, when businessman Joey de Venecia III went out of his comfort zone and exposed one of Mrs. Arroyo's greatest scams--the ZTE-NBN scandal. That scandal nearly toppled the government.
Despite admonitions "not to rock the boat", Joey de Venecia III exposed the attempted bribery of US$ 10 million pesos by Arroyo's closest adviser former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos. De Venecia III, if you remember, told us that the project ballooned to about US$265 million because Abalos and the local partners of ZTE wanted kickbacks worth US$200 million plus.
A good and honest businessman, Joey wanted nothing out of it. Let's recap what happened lest we forget that some men are still good and deserves our admiration for standing their ground against corruption.
Joey's fight continues as he tirelessly went around town, convincing people to still go with him to the Senate.
Joey remains one of the strongest contenders for a senate seat.
Showing posts with label AB-ZTE-FG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AB-ZTE-FG. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, November 12, 2009
No saints in ZTE-NBN deal
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Senate ZTE-NBN report---a review
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.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
AB-ZTE-FG---will FG be next in the firing line?
Abalos has just resigned. GMA was reportedly surprised. This happened in a very short period of time. The next query--who's next in the chopping block?
AB then ZTE
Will GMA's trip to China today marks the end of ZTE? This abrupt trip to China smells like an attempt at damage control on the part of the president. What will GMA say to the Chinese? She appears like one of the consorts of the Chinese emperor of old, reporting to them like they are the new masters of the Filipinos. We know from sources inside the palace that the $ 1.8 B loan package that China dangled like a carrot to Arroyo is on the verge of being written off by the Chinese because of this ZTE deal. And we heard that some ZTE officials have literally begged Arroyo to tell the truth about this shaddy deal entered by her and her husband to their principal in China. Some Chinese friends from the Communist Party told New Philippine Revolution that the stench has reached alarming proportions throughout the global business community that it threatens other ZTE deals from other countries. ZTE is a global brand. Its a major supplier of telecommunications equipment for large multinational companies around the world. With this deal going bonkers, expect a major shakedown within the company. That shakedown of political operators within ZTE will have drastic effects on the company's capabilities.
ZTE then FG
After the ZTE, will GMA then pressure her husband to "back off" from government deals, the same way she and her gang turned Abalos into a sacrificial lamb? It seems that FG has been effectively shielded from all these just by merely being away from it all. What is FG really doing there in Europe? Is he trying to protect their asses err assets? Or, as some say, FG is preparing the country of their exile in time for the next big thing? We heard that the couple does not intend to suffer the same fate as Erap so they would want to stay away from the Philippines in an event of major power grab.
Issue shifting---again
It seems that the issue has drastically changed direction. Last week, all eyes were on Abalos as he tried to parry the maliciousness of the Senate and the barrage of illicit innuendoes. Now that he resigned, the administration has a real issue in their hands. As what we wrote here, it's clear that Abalos will be sacrificed by the palace along with Neri. His resignation has now dictated the tempo of this controversy. For instead of putting an end into all of these, Abalos' resignation has put Arroyo into very dangerous situations.
Dangerous Liaisons
Think about this---Abalos will now be free to launch a vilification campaign against his former principal. Like all other EDSA 1 veterans, Abalos is obviously a fighter. He's a political survivor. He knows the game and has the skills for survival. Obviously, Abalos was stunned by the betrayal of the palace whom he has caressed and cared for during the previous two elections. I believe the confrontation of Neri and Abalos during the Senate hearings have taken Abalos aback. Obviously, the old man could not believe that he's being fed to the wolves, with nay of a support (even moral) from his principal. Grizzled veterans like Abalos knows how and when to throw that knockout punch and judging from his moves right now, Abalos is timing his actions. Will Abalos do an Ali who once flew like a butterfly and sting like a bee?
Abalos ala Ali
Reports say, Abalos vowed to fight back. He wants to clear his name. But, ex Chair, how would you do it? The entire country has taken you as an influence-peddler. The entire palace media machinery has been ordered to wreck your entire persona. You have been portrayed as a cheap political caddy. It would take Abalos years to repair that damage. It appears that Abalos will not fade away, as some palace sectors hope he would.
Villains turning into heroes?
If Abalos sings, as some civil society sectors hope he will, it might turn him into an instant hero. Look at how Chavit did it. Chavit is as guilty as Erap when he made that "revelation." Will Abalos do the same thing, this time against the EDSA 2 beneficiary?
Look at the number of articles coming out of the papers. It's like a political battlefield out there. Some reports say that JDV has a hand in a number of Chinese deals, including the North Rail and the Cyber-Education project. I believe in this. JDV probably sent his son or supported him just for them to appear clean in all these allegations. Or, even if he did'nt do it or did'nt push his son or any other sonnafabitch to spill the dirty work, there's a clear indication that these things have a deeper shit behind them.
Neri---the real villain?
It appears, as some sectors allude, that Neri is not as clean as what he was pictured out to be. ZTE pursued him even up to the ched with the Cyber-Education project, another big elephant which nearly escaped the public eye. Is it possible that Neri did received a huge sum, as what some reports say, from ZTE? Is Neri the real villain here? Note that Neri elected not to reveal anything against Arroyo at the hearings. He's a lapdog, that's as clear as day. Why? Probably the palace holds some aces in their sleeves against him. It could be that Neri is a bagman, as what others say he is.
The Final Punch
I still believe that all of these things will lead to a big incident, so big that it would topple GMA in a few months' time. Forces are slowly confluencing into one gigantic movement and nature's law dictates that such a force should (1) have direction and (2) should have an outlet of expression.
In the next few days, I believe that Abalos will find "enlightenment" and decide to fight those who betrayed him. Will he spill the beans, as some sectors hope he will against GMA? Or he'll just fire his gun specifically at his detractors, at Joey?
His decision will be based on time. Readers, this is cryptic. Read between the lines, please and you'll know the truth.
(UPDATE) Cory Aquino visits Abalos after resignation
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 07:54pm (Mla time) 10/01/2007
Most Read
MANILA, Philippines--Former president Corazon Aquino on Monday visited Benjamin Abalos Sr. after he announced his resignation as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying she was returning the support Abalos and his family gave her when she herself was plagued by crisis.
Aquino arrived at Abalos’ residence on Kanlaon Street in Mandaluyong City past 3 p.m. She was greeted by the ex-poll chairman and his wife, Corazon.
In a brief talk with the media, Aquino expressed support for Abalos and said she has been praying for the beleaguered government official.
When her administration was threatened by coup d’etats, Abalos was one of the first officials to arrive in Malacañang to give her support. Abalos and his wife were also there for her when she felt like an outcast and nobody wanted to associate with her during her crisis years, Aquino said.
“I’m returning his support,” Aquino explained, adding that her visit should remind Abalos that he still has friends.
"Nung nakita ko si Cora kanina, awang-awa ako [When I saw Cora earlier, I pitied her]," she added.
On the allegations that Abalos brokered the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Arroyo administration and the Chinese firm ZTE Corp., Aquino withheld her judgment. She added that Abalos must have prayed hard when he decided to step down from his post.
“The truth will come out,” the former president said.
“Daanin na lang natin sa dasal [Let us course it through prayers]. Trust everything to the Lord,” Aquino advised Abalos.
Aside from allegedly brokering the NBN contract, Abalos was also accused of attempted bribery by former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and businessman Jose De Venecia III.
Abalos vehemently denied the charges, saying he would file damage and perjury suits against his detractors.
Aquino gave Abalos his first break in politics when she appointed him officer-in-charge of Mandaluyong City in 1986, after the People Power revolution.
The ex-poll official even showed photographs of his oath-taking as Mandaluyong City OIC to Aquino, during their chat, which lasted for about 30 minutes.
Abalos eventually became the city mayor, a post he held until 1998, when he was replaced by his son, Benhur.
After his stint in the local government, Abalos headed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. In 2002, he was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to chair the Commission on Elections.
Abalos said he was “encouraged” by Aquino’s visit. The former president left the Abalos residence around 3:50 p.m.
"When you are in crisis, you will really know who your real friends are," he said.
“I feel very much touched. Somehow, this strengthens you,” he said. “I never expected this,” he added.
Originally posted at 3:25pm
AB then ZTE
Will GMA's trip to China today marks the end of ZTE? This abrupt trip to China smells like an attempt at damage control on the part of the president. What will GMA say to the Chinese? She appears like one of the consorts of the Chinese emperor of old, reporting to them like they are the new masters of the Filipinos. We know from sources inside the palace that the $ 1.8 B loan package that China dangled like a carrot to Arroyo is on the verge of being written off by the Chinese because of this ZTE deal. And we heard that some ZTE officials have literally begged Arroyo to tell the truth about this shaddy deal entered by her and her husband to their principal in China. Some Chinese friends from the Communist Party told New Philippine Revolution that the stench has reached alarming proportions throughout the global business community that it threatens other ZTE deals from other countries. ZTE is a global brand. Its a major supplier of telecommunications equipment for large multinational companies around the world. With this deal going bonkers, expect a major shakedown within the company. That shakedown of political operators within ZTE will have drastic effects on the company's capabilities.
ZTE then FG
After the ZTE, will GMA then pressure her husband to "back off" from government deals, the same way she and her gang turned Abalos into a sacrificial lamb? It seems that FG has been effectively shielded from all these just by merely being away from it all. What is FG really doing there in Europe? Is he trying to protect their asses err assets? Or, as some say, FG is preparing the country of their exile in time for the next big thing? We heard that the couple does not intend to suffer the same fate as Erap so they would want to stay away from the Philippines in an event of major power grab.
Issue shifting---again
It seems that the issue has drastically changed direction. Last week, all eyes were on Abalos as he tried to parry the maliciousness of the Senate and the barrage of illicit innuendoes. Now that he resigned, the administration has a real issue in their hands. As what we wrote here, it's clear that Abalos will be sacrificed by the palace along with Neri. His resignation has now dictated the tempo of this controversy. For instead of putting an end into all of these, Abalos' resignation has put Arroyo into very dangerous situations.
Dangerous Liaisons
Think about this---Abalos will now be free to launch a vilification campaign against his former principal. Like all other EDSA 1 veterans, Abalos is obviously a fighter. He's a political survivor. He knows the game and has the skills for survival. Obviously, Abalos was stunned by the betrayal of the palace whom he has caressed and cared for during the previous two elections. I believe the confrontation of Neri and Abalos during the Senate hearings have taken Abalos aback. Obviously, the old man could not believe that he's being fed to the wolves, with nay of a support (even moral) from his principal. Grizzled veterans like Abalos knows how and when to throw that knockout punch and judging from his moves right now, Abalos is timing his actions. Will Abalos do an Ali who once flew like a butterfly and sting like a bee?
Abalos ala Ali
Reports say, Abalos vowed to fight back. He wants to clear his name. But, ex Chair, how would you do it? The entire country has taken you as an influence-peddler. The entire palace media machinery has been ordered to wreck your entire persona. You have been portrayed as a cheap political caddy. It would take Abalos years to repair that damage. It appears that Abalos will not fade away, as some palace sectors hope he would.
Villains turning into heroes?
If Abalos sings, as some civil society sectors hope he will, it might turn him into an instant hero. Look at how Chavit did it. Chavit is as guilty as Erap when he made that "revelation." Will Abalos do the same thing, this time against the EDSA 2 beneficiary?
Look at the number of articles coming out of the papers. It's like a political battlefield out there. Some reports say that JDV has a hand in a number of Chinese deals, including the North Rail and the Cyber-Education project. I believe in this. JDV probably sent his son or supported him just for them to appear clean in all these allegations. Or, even if he did'nt do it or did'nt push his son or any other sonnafabitch to spill the dirty work, there's a clear indication that these things have a deeper shit behind them.
Neri---the real villain?
It appears, as some sectors allude, that Neri is not as clean as what he was pictured out to be. ZTE pursued him even up to the ched with the Cyber-Education project, another big elephant which nearly escaped the public eye. Is it possible that Neri did received a huge sum, as what some reports say, from ZTE? Is Neri the real villain here? Note that Neri elected not to reveal anything against Arroyo at the hearings. He's a lapdog, that's as clear as day. Why? Probably the palace holds some aces in their sleeves against him. It could be that Neri is a bagman, as what others say he is.
The Final Punch
I still believe that all of these things will lead to a big incident, so big that it would topple GMA in a few months' time. Forces are slowly confluencing into one gigantic movement and nature's law dictates that such a force should (1) have direction and (2) should have an outlet of expression.
In the next few days, I believe that Abalos will find "enlightenment" and decide to fight those who betrayed him. Will he spill the beans, as some sectors hope he will against GMA? Or he'll just fire his gun specifically at his detractors, at Joey?
His decision will be based on time. Readers, this is cryptic. Read between the lines, please and you'll know the truth.
(UPDATE) Cory Aquino visits Abalos after resignation
By Kristine L. Alave
Inquirer
Last updated 07:54pm (Mla time) 10/01/2007
Most Read
MANILA, Philippines--Former president Corazon Aquino on Monday visited Benjamin Abalos Sr. after he announced his resignation as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), saying she was returning the support Abalos and his family gave her when she herself was plagued by crisis.
Aquino arrived at Abalos’ residence on Kanlaon Street in Mandaluyong City past 3 p.m. She was greeted by the ex-poll chairman and his wife, Corazon.
In a brief talk with the media, Aquino expressed support for Abalos and said she has been praying for the beleaguered government official.
When her administration was threatened by coup d’etats, Abalos was one of the first officials to arrive in Malacañang to give her support. Abalos and his wife were also there for her when she felt like an outcast and nobody wanted to associate with her during her crisis years, Aquino said.
“I’m returning his support,” Aquino explained, adding that her visit should remind Abalos that he still has friends.
"Nung nakita ko si Cora kanina, awang-awa ako [When I saw Cora earlier, I pitied her]," she added.
On the allegations that Abalos brokered the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Arroyo administration and the Chinese firm ZTE Corp., Aquino withheld her judgment. She added that Abalos must have prayed hard when he decided to step down from his post.
“The truth will come out,” the former president said.
“Daanin na lang natin sa dasal [Let us course it through prayers]. Trust everything to the Lord,” Aquino advised Abalos.
Aside from allegedly brokering the NBN contract, Abalos was also accused of attempted bribery by former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and businessman Jose De Venecia III.
Abalos vehemently denied the charges, saying he would file damage and perjury suits against his detractors.
Aquino gave Abalos his first break in politics when she appointed him officer-in-charge of Mandaluyong City in 1986, after the People Power revolution.
The ex-poll official even showed photographs of his oath-taking as Mandaluyong City OIC to Aquino, during their chat, which lasted for about 30 minutes.
Abalos eventually became the city mayor, a post he held until 1998, when he was replaced by his son, Benhur.
After his stint in the local government, Abalos headed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. In 2002, he was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to chair the Commission on Elections.
Abalos said he was “encouraged” by Aquino’s visit. The former president left the Abalos residence around 3:50 p.m.
"When you are in crisis, you will really know who your real friends are," he said.
“I feel very much touched. Somehow, this strengthens you,” he said. “I never expected this,” he added.
Originally posted at 3:25pm
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