Joker denies he blocked Neri's ZTE deal exposé

Sen. Joker Arroyo on Sunday completely denied that he barred Romulo Neri from telling the rest of the story about the alleged anomalous transaction between the Philippine government and China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. for the $329.48-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project. "Hindi totoo 'yong report na 'yon. (It is) completely false...Sources, sources, panay sources. Eh ako I identify, I mention the person... dapat the reporter should also mention the source para pareho (The report is not true. It is completely false. They did not identify their sources. I do identify my sources and the reporter should also do the same so there will be fair reporting)," Sen. Arroyo told radio dzBB in an interview. Sen. Arroyo was referring to the banner story published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) on Sunday. It was reported in the article that according to sources, Neri was “on the verge" of telling the rest of his explosive story on the supposed lobbying and bribery in the ZTE deal during the September 26 Senate executive session. However, the article said Sen. Arroyo intervened by making a motion to allow Neri to avail himself of the legal counsel of his choice before he makes his testimony. Quoting sources, the article said Neri told a friend before Wednesday's closed-door session that what he knew could “possibly" lead to the “downfall" of his boss, President Macapagal-Arroyo. Neri was director general of NEDA before he became chairman of the Commission on Higher Education. It was during Neri’s term at the NEDA when the proposed NBN project was reviewed. Neri said the NBN project was approved by NEDA last March 29. The project was awarded to Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment, Corporation last April 21 in ceremonies in Baoa, China witnessed by President Arroyo. Sen. Arroyo said he will answer the allegations hurled against him when the Senate inquiry on the ZTE deal resumes. "Pag resume, sasagutin ko 'yon, para malaman ng lahat kung ano... There is already yellow journalism dito, yung parang duwag, biro mo 17 times minention sa article (I will answer the allegation during the resumption of the Senate investigation on the ZTE deal, so that everybody will know what really happened. There is already yellow journalism here, there is cowardice because the (PDI) article mentioned its sources 17 times without identifying them)," he said. - GMANews.TV