Palace mum on order to suspend Neri over ZTE deal mess

Insisting the matter is up to the courts, Malacañang has refused to make comments on whether it will implement an order by the Ombudsman to suspend Social Security System chief Romulo Neri for his role in the controversial $329.48-million broadband project with China’s ZTE firm. Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar did not answer questions on when the Palace will implement the Ombudsman’s order, but noted Neri has his rights under the justice system. “This is not something that is proper for the executive (department), let alone the Palace, to be involved in. Whatever may be our sentiments or confidence in the people involved, we have to yield to the impartiality and independence of the judicial process," Olivar said on government-run dzRB radio. He added the case, where Neri may still file a motion for reconsideration, is a process with the courts and the Ombudsman. Earlier, the Ombudsman ordered graft charges filed against Neri and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos over the national broadband deal mess. [ZTE controversy timeline] Abalos resigned from the Comelec in October 2007, amid allegations that he offered bribe money for the approval of the National Broadband Network contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corp. The Ombudsman also found probable cause against Neri, then socio-economic secretary, who allowed the signing of the contract. But the Ombudsman also cleared outgoing President and incoming Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo from the case. — LBG, GMANews.TV