PRESS Secretary Cerge Remonde urged the Ombudsman to conduct a thorough investigation on the botched broadband deal between the Philippine government and China's ZTE Corporation.

Remonde made the call after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended the filing of charges against those implicated in the deal.

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"Investigation by the Ombudsman is clearly called for, as this will give everyone the chance to clear their names, as well as the truth a chance to be heard. On this at least we can agree with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee-on the advisability of an investigation, although perhaps not on one's motives and reasons for wanting one," he said.

The Palace official expressed hope that the Blue Ribbon's report will not be exploited and used for "the cynical and oppositionist agendas of others."

Remonde cited that while the report did not establish a direct link between the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the controversy, she is being made a "scapegoat as well as a pawn for political agendas."

According to him, the report seeks to implicate everyone who was linked to the issue as they are all being accused of violations of the law.

But it failed to establish violations of Arroyo though it cited her supposed inaction on the issue citing that her "performance of presidential duty has been wanting," added Remonde.

Immunity from suit

He said Senate's report also expressed concern over Arroyo having immunity from suit, "and on this, it is not the President who is implicated, but the Ombudsman, allegedly for not discharging its duty to investigate impeachable officers."

"The complaint by the Committee boils down to a tug of war between the Ombudsman-an independent constitutional body-and the House over their relative balance of authority in various stages of an impeachment process. This is a dispute in which the President should not even be mentioned by the report."

Remonde said that contrary to her supposed inaction, she had cancelled the transaction following the controversy and had even ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and the police to investigate the allegations of bribery leveled against certain government officials.

He said Puno reported to the President that there was no basis to file charges against anyone at that time. "That investigation was duly conducted, and the findings reported back to the President were inconclusive. Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, and for the sake of thorough-going propriety, the transaction was cancelled by the President."

Unacceptable, unbelievable

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) meanwhile denounced the draft decision of the Senate incorporating the whistleblowers in the charge sheet in connection with the $329 million broadband deal investigation.

"It is outrageous! It is unacceptable! It is unbelievable! It is something that cannot be understood by logical thinking people... and we are maddened by this!" said AMRSP chairperson Sr. Mary John Mananzan.

She noted that is inconceivable how the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee included Joey de Venecia III and Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. in the report that recommended the filing of graft charges against them.

She added that they are puzzled on how and why the committee came up with such decision against the persons who risked their lives and livelihood for the sake of truth.

But Mananzan is still counting on the other members of the Senate panel to reject the report or come out with a minority report contradicting the committee's recommendation.

The AMRSP helped and give shelter to Lozada and his family during the time when the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal controversy is still in the news.

On Tuesday, Committee head Senator Richard Gordon recommended to file charges against First Gentleman Arroyo, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, former National Economic and Development Authority director Romulo Neri, former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos and Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Gordon said Lozada and the younger de Venecia should also be included since they actively participated in the project.

Mananzan is counting on the Office of the Ombudsman to act accordingly once the final report of the Senate has reached them. (JMR/FP/Sunnex)