Cardinal Rosales: Spare no one in ZTE-NBN mess

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales on Saturday demanded that all those involved in the controversial $329.4-million national broadband network (NBN) project be penalized in a statement that also decried lawmakers’ inability to put closure on congressional investigations. “Anyone who has a responsibility to the public must be accountable to the public. It (Congress) must not be selective," Cardinal Rosales said. The Cardinal took a stand following the impeachment complaint filed against Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., who was accused by businessman Jose “Joey" de Venecia III of brokering the NBN-ZTE deal. Rosales said that all those named and implicated in the alleged anomalous deal must be punished in order for the country to finally achieve the needed reform. “From the highest [government official] to the lowest…even down to the barangay captain [if found guilty they must be penalized]. Do not be selective anymore," he said. De Venecia III, co-owner of Amsterdam Holdings Inc that lost the NBN project and son of Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr, earlier accused Abalos of brokering the ZTE deal. He said Abalos has the backing of First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike" Arroyo. In last Wednesday’s Senate inquiry, Commission on Higher Education chief Romulo Neri hinted that Abalos tried to bribe him for the endorsement of the NBN project. But Abalos denied all the accusations leveled against him by both De Venecia and Neri, saying those were “pure lies." Asked if impeaching Abalos would be the best solution, Cardinal Rosales said: “I do not know because investigations being conducted by the lawmakers do not prosper." - GMANews.TV