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Thursday, September 27, 2007
Neri admits Abalos offered him '200' on broadband deal
MANILA -- Former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri confirmed Wednesday that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos offered him "200" to favor China firm's ZTE Corp. in the national broadband network (NBN) project.
Neri's revelation during the Senate hearing Wednesday persuaded various sectors to call for Abalos's resignation.
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Neri, now Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairman, said that early 2007, Abalos in a golf game at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club offered him 200. “Sec may 200 ka dito,” he recalled Abalos telling him while they were in a golf cart at the Wack-Wack Golf Club.
However, the former National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) director told senators he could not exactly tell if the 200 was in millions or thousands and if such was in pesos or dollars.
Neri said he was shocked of Abalos's offer, which he perceived as bribe considering that they were discussing the NBN deal at that time. He also assumed the offer to be P200 million because of the amount of the project, which is at $330 million.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was aware of the bribery attempt, according to Neri. He said he relayed the matter to the President, who instructed him not to accept the offer.
Not true
Chairman Abalos, who also appeared before the Senate inquiry Wednesday, denied Neri's statement on the bribe attempt, saying Neri was not even sure what the "200" meant.
Abalos said he had no business or reason to offer a bribe to Neri since he was never part of the NBN-ZTE project.
The poll official said Neri was lying under oath in as far as the bribery allegation is concerned.
“What is ironic is that he and all of you Mr. Senators know fully well that I do not have nor have access to technical capability to eavesdrop on other peoples conversation and have neither the power nor authority to evaluate more so award the broadband contract to any party,” Abalos said in his opening statement during the hearing.
He added: “The false claims and declarations of Jose de Venecia III against me are not impelled by some honest motive or principled cause to expose an alleged irregularity in a government transaction, rather it is intended to humiliate and discredit me and the government and its official to force government to reverse the award of the NBN project to ZTE and give it instead to him and that of his company.”
'Comfort letter'
Abalos protested allegations of brokering the broadband deal with ZTE.
He said if there was anybody brokering the NBN-ZTE project, it was not him but Neri after the former socioeconomic planning secretary wrote a “comfort letter” in support to the build-operate-transfer proposal of de Venecia III for the NBN project.
De Venecia III, son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., is a co-owner of Amsterdam Holdings Incorporated (AHI), which participated but lost in the bidding for the NBN deal.
Neri said he received the proposal of de Venecia III and forward the proposal to the Department of Transportation and Communication.
Abalos said having that comfort paper from Neri will clearly gave de Venecia III a chance to increase his potential to get more investors and capitalization for his company to undertake such project.
Neri meanwhile refused to comment on whether the project is overpriced by P200 million as earlier claimed by de Venecia III.
He only said the contract of this nature has a good profit margin.
Neri explained that the Neda only review proposals while the appropriate agency concerned has the right to decide and make the proper recommendation.
Resignation
Some congressmen said Abalos, who was accused of brokering the broadband deal, “doesn’t deserve to stay in public office, not even a minute longer.”
Nueva Viscaya Representative Carlos Padilla said Abalos should now resign or face impeachment in light of Neri’s testimony that the election chief bribed him.
Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said Congress has the “goods” to impeach Abalos.
Casiño said they have already coordinated with the House minority to prepare the impeachment complaint against Abalos for alleged bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
He said Bayan Muna will endorse a civilian-initiated complaint against the Comelec official.
Makati Business Club (MBC) executive director Alberto Lim said they supported the call for Abalos to resign.
He said Abalos should have the “delicadeza” to resign from his post considering the controversies engulfing his stay at the election body.
Security
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said police security had been provided to Neri to ensure his safety after a suspicious vehicle was seen casing his residence in Quezon City last week.
Ermita said he called up incoming Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. to check on the suspicious vehicle and at the same time send a team to ensure Neri's safety.
“We have to look at the welfare of a Cabinet member. If I'm concerned with one Cabinet member, it's my duty as the head of the Cabinet to ensure the safety and security, at least give that feeling of security among members of the Cabinet,” he said.
Ermita said he made the call to Razon, only after Neri called him late last week after he saw a light green vehicle continuously passing by his house. (Sunnex)
(September 27, 2007 issue)
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