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Santiago walks out of Senate hearing on ZTE deal


Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Wednesday walked out of the Senate hearing after describing the hullabaloo over the national broadband network (NBN) project as a mere squabble for billions of pesos in commissions. Santiago said the parties involved in the controversy are just fighting over some P1.5 billion in commissions that they stand to gain from the project, and left the hearing shortly after questioning former Socio-economic chief Romulo Neri and Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos on the ZTE contract. “It is at least agreed by the parties that the contract involved some US$300 million. Ten percent, the usual commission or usual kickback of $300 million is $30 million. Reduced to our currency, that should be – if my math is correct - P1.5 billion. No wonder these people are at each other's throats. They're fighting over P1.5 billion," Santiago said in her opening statement. “Now, I want to place on record as a senator with the principal duty of passing good laws, to promote the national interest even long after I'm gone from the Senate, I resent being made part into this squabble. Pinag-aawayan niyo lang ang kickback ninyo. Inaaksaya nyo ang panahon ng Senado (You are just fighting over your kickbacks. You are wasting the Senate’s time)," Santiago said before leaving the hearing. Santiago even hinted on a “double-cross" in the exposure of alleged wrong-doings related to the NBN project. “This is not a normal case of a disgruntled party only. What i see here is a double cross syndrome… Dahil ang double cross, in my definition is this, when the public official promises something like go ahead… accepts the bribe and turns around and exposes the transaction maybe because the rival syndicate offered him more money or simply to earn publicity as a good-doer… Now our job is to find out who double-crossed whom," Santiago said. Santiago also took a swing at China: “China invented civilization in the east but as well it invented corruption for all of human civilization. Kaya mahilig itong mga Instik na ito mag-imbita sa golf, sa dinner, magbigay ng free tickets sa China. Nakakaintindi naman tayo lahat that when you are a public official, we are not invited because of our physical or sexual good looks – we are being invited in connection with a certain government project. That is my observation," Santiago said. - GMANews.TV

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