Arroyo hubby denies role in ZTE broadband deal

First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo on Tuesday dismissed claims that he influenced a company owned by the son of Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr to withdraw its proposal for a multi-million national broadband project so it could give way to China's ZTE Corp. Jesus Santos, Mr Arroyo's counsel and spokesperson, said the accusations against the First Gentleman are malicious and part of a "black propaganda." "Black propaganda na naman 'yan. Wag ganyan kasi 'yong mama eh sinabihan na ng doctor no'n pa matapos ang heart surgery n'ya na magbakasyon muna s'ya sa labas ng bansa, (It's another black propaganda. It shouldn't be like that. Even before the ZTE controversy, the doctors advised the First Gentleman to take a vacation abroad after his heart surgery)" Santos told reporters on Monday. Santos said Mr Arroyo's departure last Monday has nothing to do with the ZTE deal controversy, because the First Gentleman's trip abroad was planned even before he underwent heart surgery last April. "Matagal na itong pinaplano, hindi dahil lang sa meron inquiry sa Senate. It’s a clean bill of health recommendation ng doctor. Di ba kasama nga s'ya ni Presidente sa Australia," (His trip abroad has been planned long before the issue on the ZTE deal came out. Going abroad is a clean bill of health recommendation from his doctors. Isn't it that he went with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Australia during the APEC meet?)" he said. The speaker's son, Jose "Joey" De Venecia III, co-owner of Amsterdam Holdings, Inc, testified before three Senate panels on Monday that the First Gentlemen told him six months ago to "back off" from pursuing the multi-million broadband project. ZTE bagged the broadband project five months ago. The Philippine government and ZTE Corp signed a $329.4 million (P16 billion) deal on April 21, 2007 at the height of the campaign for the May 14 midterm elections. Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ZTE vice president Yu Yong signed the deal in ceremonies witnessed by President Arroyo in Boao, China. - GMANews.TV