Neri calls for year of 'social peace' amid ZTE mess

Romulo Neri, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, on Thursday asked Philippine political leaders for one year of "social peace," which should be used to focus on country's problems and look for their solutions. Neri was the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary when the allegedly padded national broadband network contract with China's ZTE Corp. was approved. Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the key witness in the Senate’s inquiry into the aborted $329.48-million NBN project, testified that Neri has knowledge of former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos' attempt to pad the contract by $130 million. "I urge our political leaders to declare one year of social peace so we can focus on the real solutions to our nation's deeply rooted problems," Neri said in a statement made to reporters who had congregated outside his Quezon City home. Members of the political opposition are urging Neri to reveal what he knows about the NBN contract, which they think can establish that even President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had a hand in the deal's approval. "I urge our political leaders to abandon this politics of hate and go for the politics of hope and progress where we practice human decency and respect for the dignity of our fellow man," Neri said. After confirming that Abalos tried to bribe him with "200" to get the contract passed, Neri has refused to comment further on the issue, claiming he has said all he knows about the contract when he testified before the Senate September last year. He has repeatedly shot down calls for him to disclose the details of his conversations with President Arroyo on the matter, invoking "Executive Privilege." - GMANews.TV