Saturday, February 09, 2008 Barrita: Greed By Eddie O. Barrita Small Bites
ZTE broadband deal consultant Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr., in a testimony before senators, said former Neda chief Romulo Neri told him to “moderate the greed” of resigned Comelec chair Ben Abalos and individuals involved in the project.
He must have a hard time trying to “moderate” Abalos’ demand for a $130 million commission in the $329 million ZTE deal.
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Those involved in the ZTE deal hoped to make a killing from the project.
Now that the project was cancelled, they got nothing.
They’ll have to wait until another project comes along.
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Lozada said he was shocked to discover that the financial projection for botched NBN project was based only on an article in a tabloid.
Now, government will no longer need costly feasibility studies.
Just grab a tabloid and start a project right away.
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Lozada, when placed under Senate custody, requested for a dinner of lamb curry.
But that’s not the reason he looked like a lamb in a lions’ den when he testified before the Senate.
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The ZTE deal has already caused, indirectly, the removal of Comelec chair Abalos and House Speaker Jose de Venecia from their positions.
Who’s next?
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The Cebu City Council has declared a “continuing state of calamity” due to the hike in dengue cases in the city.
That will give them chance to try on everything they can hold on to combat dengue, from fogging to pouring used oil on lagoons and spraying insecticides in dengue affected areas.
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Cebu City Councilor Cris Alix said spraying insecticide has been proven effective when dengue cases dropped by 50 percent in 2006.
As they say in Cabadiangan, Naa ra man diay na.
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Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña said he is worried if Reps. Raul del Mar and Tony Cuenco will still get projects after the two voted against the ouster of Sepaker Jose de Venecia.
Mayor Osmeña shouldn’t worry.
He’ll have more funds when he’ll be able to finally sell the South Road Properties.
