Senate ZTE-NBN report---a review

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 The deal, if you remember, was rescinded by the Arroyo administration due to some "anomalous" issues.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.

ZTE-NBN deal report---a first peek

The ZTE-NBN deal report will be released very, very soon. And I got the chance to peek at the report.

Tsk,tsk,tsk. It's a revelation.

First off, whoever wrote the report is very brave. It's straight-forward. It tells it like it is. It is revelatory. And it will shock the entire Philippines.

Second, it specifically points out the culprits. There were no saints, only villains. It tells it like it is---the ZTE-NBN deal is one made for everyone involved to profit at the expense of the Filipino taxpayer. In the Ombusman report, some people were exempted from charges of collusion and graft; in this report, everyone, including the First Family, was charged. Cool.

Lastly, I just hope that when that momentous day comes, when the Public finally realizes who were at fault and who really profitted from this multi-billion peso deal, they (and I am referring to the right government agencies) will do the right thing and file all those charges in court. Let those who really wanted to get a fast buck out of this deal suffer the full force of the law.

It's already 11:06 pm. Time to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll write another entry about this deal.

Dare the Patriots

I have a dare to all these groups opposing Arroyo--quo vadis?

What now, given that the Supreme Court has ruled 9-6 in favor of Neri's petition? Will these groups continue to look for the truth? The truth has already been effectively suppressed. Do you have any plans, since this ruling just shows you that there's no more legal avenues to avail of to know the truth.

I am also asking former Senate President Jovito Salonga and former president Fidel V. Ramos--what now? How about AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon? What now sir?

This ruling shows you the completeness of the Arroyo mafia. Each and every constitutional body have all been neutralized. Every one toes the palace line--the church, the media, the Ombusman, the DOJ, the Supreme Court and even, the Senate. What we have right now is the complete picture of a strong, stable constitutional dictatorship.

I also dare the Patriots--what now? Who will now stand up for the truth? This ruling sends a chilling message to all government officials--do your thing and when the Senate or anybody asks you about it, you can go there and tell them half-truths. My friend Aries Rufo of the ABS-CBN/Newsbreak team is right--it effectively emasculated the power of the Senate.

Will the Senate now continue its probe given that even if they call Neri, Neri could only say "hi" and "hello" to them?

I am not worried about this on the legal front. I have always told everybody that this issue is not a legal one but a moral one. This ruling just shows you how far the disjunct is between morals or ethics from our laws. Laws should reflect the morality of the nation. Yet, the highest court of the law does not see this.

I am worried about how to tell this to my kids. I am worried since my kids want to be government officials some day. This ruling tells them to just fuck up with your jobs, rob the country of all you want, and you can get away with it. Sell the patrimony of this nation, sell government lands to foreigners,and if the Ombusman or the Senate come knocking at your door, tell them half-truths. Or just go to the Supreme Court for protection.

This is the saddest day for Philippine democracy, but a victory to all those who want to enrich themselves using public money.