Thursday, March 13, 2008 NBN-ZTE 'telenovela' ending By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
SILAY CITY -- The "telenovela" on the controversy about the $329-million NBN-ZTE deal is nearing its end, said Dr. Anthony Golez, currently deputy presidential spokesperson, in a press conference at the airport Wednesday morning.
Golez was in Bacolod Wednesday for an affair organized by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) in relation to the monthly inspection of the new airport in Silay City.
He denied speculations that his coming here is meant to equalize the coming of NBN-ZTE deal star witnesses Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada and Jose "Joey" De Venecia III on Friday.
Lozada and Joey De Venecia, son of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr., are set to deliver speeches at the La Salle University, La Consolacion College and Bacolod Cathedral Friday afternoon.
"And if you ask me about the NBN-ZTE deal, I'm not interested to talk about it because I know that there's a need now to bring this matter to court so the real truth will prevail," he said, adding, "Because people are now tired and almost everybody wants to switch to a new channel of investigation, and that's in court."
He also said everything about the NBN-ZTE issue is already "too much."
NBN-ZTE would set up a nationwide computer and telecom network linking National Government agencies, state corporations and financial institutions, local governments down to 5th and 6th class municipalities, and 23 barangay internet centers.
It cost $329-million but President Arroyo cancelled the deal on October 2, 2007 due to allegations of overpricing.
But Lozada and the younger De Venecia said there was bribery happening in the deal.
Both accused former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo as the ones who benefited from the bribery.
Both, however, denied the allegations.
"It's already hurting the country and we are now losing our focus. Supposedly, what we need to do right now is to focus on how to do things in order to avert the unprecedented increases of fuel and rice prices," he also stressed.
Golez, meanwhile, refused to answer the question on whether President Arroyo is guilty or not guilty in the controversy.
"Let's ask the 19 million Filipino people. But one thing I am sure is that when we bring this matter in court, I know that the real truth will come out later- and that's the truth we're longing for because only the court has the technical expertise to handle such expose' and not the Senate," Golez added.
