|
Friday, September 21, 2007
Poll chief eyes raps vs House Speaker's son
By Richel V. Umel
Lanao Correspondent
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos confirmed he is preparing charges against businessman Jose de Venecia III, son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., in relation to allegations of bribery over the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal.
Abalos said he would attend the next Senate inquiry on the case "in order to clear his name."
Join forum on Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict on Estrada plunder case. Post comments here.
The Comelec chairman was in Cagayan de Oro Thursday to meet with local Comelec officials concerning plans for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
While Abalos prepares charges against de Venecia III, a lawyer on Thursday filed an unprecedented ethics complaint against the businessman's father in the wake of the NBN broadband deal controversy.
Roberto Rafael Pulido, who once served as a lawyer for Magdalo soldiers, claimed the Speaker abetted the criminal acts of his son.
He alleged this was done when the younger de Venecia illegally sought and secured a congressional franchise for his firm, Multi-Media Telephony Inc. (MTI), while his father was the top House official.
Abalos told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro he did meet First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club and then later with Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and de Venecia III.
"I usually visit the golf club that's why I am frequently seen there," Abalos said.
Abalos, who is celebrating his 73rd birthday on September 21, said his birthday wish is to clear his name from charges on the NBN deal, which he described as "baseless."
While the Comelec chairman prepares to attend the Senate investigation, allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House Speaker de Venecia in the Caraga region were silent about the issue.
Still, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers said the NBN deal must not drag the whole country down and ruin the economic gains of the Arroyo administration.
Barbers, who earned the ire of the Arroyos when he signed the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo, said the opposition must stop hyping the matter unless it has strong evidence to back its allegations.
In his complaint before the House committee on ethics and privileges, lawyer Pulido alleged that de Venecia III violated the anti-graft law when MTI applied for a franchise while de Venecia Jr. was Speaker.
The law bans public officials from intervening in transactions of certain relatives with the government.
"I'm not part of any interested group. I'm doing this as an ordinary citizen and a lawyer," he said.
The complaint also said de Venecia III again violated the anti-graft law when he submitted an uninvited proposal to install a broadband network for the government. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex/With reports from Ben Serrano)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (September 21, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Senator calls for scrapping of broadband deal