Lacson: ZTE broadband deal leads up to President

Despite attempts by Jose “Joey" de Venecia III to “shield" President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the circumstances surrounding the controversial $329.4-million broadband deal that the businessman described lead up to the President herself, opposition Senator Panfilo “Ping" Lacson said Tuesday. Lacson alleged that as early as late 2006, Mrs. Arroyo was aware that Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos was pushing for Chinese firm ZTE Corp. to bag the deal. The deal was signed in April this year. "There were so many circumstances that indicate she knew of the ZTE deal. In the golf side tour in Shenzhen in China, she asked Abalos why he didn't follow de Venecia's model. Does that not indicate she was at least aware of Abalos' intentions?" Lacson said. The opposition lawmaker also questioned why Mrs Arroyo laid down several guidelines for the contract during a November 2006 meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority board, such as no government subsidies and yet the ZTE contract involved a government loan worth $329.4 million (about P16 billion). "She said there should be no government subsidy and all. But it turns out she gave the imprimatur by going to China to witness the signing of the contract. Is there any clearer imprimatur than her physical presence at the signing?" Lacson said. The opposition lawmaker also pointed out that de Venecia, son of House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr, repeatedly called Mrs Arroyo "my President" but eventually referred to her as "Madame" before the hearing ended. The senator said de Venecia's level of credibility is "very much different" in terms of stature, and that there is apparently no more turning back for him. "He already crossed the Rubicon," he said. In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, de Venecia revealed that First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo told him to “back off" from pursuing the national broadcasting network (NBN) deal. The businessman also said under oath that Abalos offered him a $10 million bribe to withdraw a rival proposal by his company, Amsterdam Holdings Inc. Lacson also said he is still convincing his own witness on the broadband deal to come out and testify to corroborate de Venecia's testimony. -GMANews.TV