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Arroyo tells Cabinet execs: Set record straight at ZTE probe


President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday ordered senior Cabinet officials to attend the Senate inquiry on the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) project that was awarded to China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Company Ltd. First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo was dragged into the NBN controversy after the son of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr testified at the Senate on September 18 that the President's husband bullied him to “back off" from the project that was later on bagged by ZTE for $329.4 million (about P16 billion based on exchange rate of P50 to $1). On the same day the President lifted the gag order imposed on her Cabinet members, lawyer Jesus Santos, spokesman of the First Gentleman, confirmed that Mr Arroyo met businessman Jose “Joey" de Venecia III at Wack Wack Golf and Country in Mandaluyong City, sometime in March. Santos, however, denied that Mr Arroyo forced De Venecia III, co-owner of the Amsterdam Holdings, Inc, to back out from bidding in the NBN project. He said the First Gentleman only reminded the younger De Venecia not to engage in government transactions because he is a son of the Speaker. Nothing wrong In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo gave her go-signal to Cabinet officials to show that her administration has nothing to hide about the government contract. "She has instructed the Cabinet members concerned in the hearing going on in the ZTE issue to attend the hearing of the Senate tomorrow (Thursday)," Ermita told reporters. He added that, "The President would like to tell everybody that there's really nothing wrong with all these issues and the administration is willing to reveal all that it knows about the contract." The President gave her nod to Secretaries Leandro Mendoza (transportation and communication) and Peter Favila (trade and industry) as well as Chairman Romulo Neri of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other officials connected with the contract. Neri was socioeconomic planning secretary when the project contract was being forged. He gave senators the slip Tuesday morning. He attended a Senate finance sub-committee hearing but did not show up at the probe over the ZTE contract. Ermita said Mrs Arroyo wanted to show senators and the public in general that the Executive branch was determined "to set the record straight about things that have been said." He added that, "If nothing comes out from our officials concerned, people might think that there are things that are being kept." However, Ermita did not comment on Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's remark that the Senate may invite to the hearing First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who allegedly threatened the House Speaker's son, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, to "back off" from pursuing the project. The First Gentleman flew out of the country Monday on the eve of the Senate hearing. Senators were considering contempt raps against the absent Palace officials, who excused themselves by saying that their statements might be interpreted by the Supreme Court as sub judice. Malacañang had insisted that ZTE Corp. and the Philippine government only signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), thus the contract allegedly has not been perfected. The MOU was signed by Mendoza and ZTE vice president Yu Yong in Baoa, China last April 21 in the middle of the Philippine election period. Circuses Earlier in the day, President Arroyo lashed back at her critics amid allegations hurled by the younger De Venecia. De Venecia III testified before senators that Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos tried to dissuade him from pursuing the national broadband network project, and that the latter enjoyed the backing of the First Gentleman. "Yes, political circuses are entertaining but they should not dissipate our energy the way they consume those who stage them. Let's focus on things that matter most, the things that our people want–jobs, health and education. This is what the government has stayed focused on what Filipinos yearn for most," she said at the opening of a policy forum in eastern Metro Manila. She added that, "We're tired of political drama and social instability ... Let's not be distracted or distressed by vaudeville acts that appeal to our worst fears." Mrs Arroyo said the public has grown tired of "tales of conspiracy" that take away attention from real issues that the media should play up. She said the real issues include job creation, health and education, as well as lower electricity rates in economic zones. - GMANews.TV

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