Lagman: Arroyo could invoke right vs self-incrimination on NBN-ZTE

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo could invoke her right against self-incrimination and opt to stay silent at the Sandiganbayan hearing on the $329-billion NBN-ZTE deal, if at all she decides to attend, her lead ally at the Lower House said Wednesday. “At this point in time, whatever she would say there could be used against her so you could invoke the Constitutional right against self incrimination," said House minority leader Edcel Lagman in a press conference, adding that “it’s actually the option of the former President whether to appear or not" at the Sandiganbayan hearings. Aside from these, the lawmaker refused to give further statements as he does not want to preempt Mrs. Arroyo’s move. “I think she has a lawyer and we should not preempt the counsel or her lawyer on what she should do," he said. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, on the other hand, expressed hope Mrs. Arroyo would use this “chance to tell the whole truth." The former Arroyo administration entered into a contract with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. on April 20, 2007 in Hainan, China for the proposed national broadband network project. However, as alleged irregularities were cited about the deal, Arroyo cancelled the NBN project in October 2007. On July 14, 2008, the Supreme Court dismissed three petitions questioning the constitutionality of the ZTE deal, saying the petitions became moot when the project was cancelled. On Monday, the anti-graft court said Arroyo will be among those to be called to help shed light on the ZTE-NBN deal. She is expected to discuss the authority her former Socio-Economic and Planning Secretary Romulo Neri exercised over the alleged overpriced project. Neri and former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos are facing graft charges for alleged involvement on the anomalous deal in separate divisions of the Sandiganbayan. The subpoena was issued Tuesday morning and brought to the House of Representatives the same day. Mrs. Arroyo’s office received it later in the day. She was requested to attend the hearings scheduled on October 13, 28, and November 11.—Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMANews.TV