Thursday, September 20, 2007 Malig: When blood is thicker than watery alliance By Jun A. Malig Cognition
LET me begin this column with the official statement of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as reaction to the “revelation” by Jose (Joey) de Venecia III before that First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo was the “mystery man” who allegedly told him to “back off” from US$329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal.
Of course, I presume that most of us already know the issues about the Philippine government’s deal with the China-based ZTE Corp. for the NBN project.
“The national interest is foremost in the current Senate inquiry into the proposed National Broadband Network.
My son appeared before the joint Senate hearings in his own right as a stockholder of the Amsterdam Holdings, Inc.
He has assumed full responsibility before the joint committees for his actions and revelations, which he provided under oath. In the course of his testimony, he named the First Gentleman, Miguel Arroyo, as telling him to back off the NBN program. The First Gentleman has every right to come forward and air his side on the issue.
It’s now for the Senate to determine if Jose de Venecia III was straightforward in telling the unvarnished truth. My son has his own moral principles to guide him. He is his own man, strong enough to stand up for them.
In this issue, both my son and the First Gentleman must be transparent to our people.
The people have the right to know the truth, nothing less. Only the truth… the truth.
This issue is now before the Supreme Court and the Office of the Ombudsman. We have to await their decision.”
* * * * *
Joey de Venecia’s sworn statement before a congressional body came as a surprise to many Filipinos -- from politicians to simple housewives. What’s happening? Why does the son of Speaker de Venecia implicating the husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo? Would this mean a cold war between the de Venecias and their supporters on one side and the Arroyos and their men and women on the other?
We’ve read and heard the reactions of the Arroyos. It seems the First Gentleman, as described by his brother Iggy as someone “who does not run away from a fight,” is prepared to defend himself when he comes back to the country.
Pampanga third district Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo was quoted in a national newspaper as saying that Joey could be liable for graft for bidding on a government project despite his being the Speaker’s son.
Camarines Sur Representative Dato Arroyo reportedly said he does not believe “the Speaker’s son.”
Speaker de Venecia and the Arroyos have been saying that their alliance would not be affected by the controversy. But, oftentimes, blood is thicker than watery political ties or partnership.
The official statement of JDV is very clear. “The people need to know the truth, nothing less. Only the truth… the truth.” The speaker said his son “has his own moral principles to guide him.” He said Joey “is his own man” and “strong enough to stand up” for his principles.
In the NBN deal issue, JDV said both his son and the First Gentleman “must be transparent” to the people for the sake of the truth. But the question is: What is the truth?
