Ermita mum on Arroyo admission of ZTE deal irregularities

A top aide of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday seemed to evade questions on the Chief Executive’s admission that she had knowledge of irregularities in the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp. even before it was signed. At the sidelines of the EDSA People Power 1 anniversary celebrations at the People Power monument in Quezon City, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita curtly answered media queries on the President’s admission. “Well alam mo naman yun ang ibig sabihin lang ng Pangulo, nagsasabi lang siya ng katotohanan. Sa katunayan, (she moved) last September to cancel (the contract) na patunay lamang na all along alam na ni Presidente arroyo ang dapat niyang gawin lalo na when it started creating a lot of noise," Ermita said. When pressed further to explain the lull between the time when the President was first given the information that the contract was flawed and the time when the contract was actually canceled, Ermita declined to comment. “Well I cannot make any comment on that, it was the president's action of making that statement, so I could not make any statement on that," Ermita said. “Hindi ko na malaman yun, alam mo naman si Presidente, she has her own thoughts about this," he also said. The Executive Secretary also said he has no knowledge as to who informed the President about the irregularities in the NBN contract. “I have no idea," Ermita said. In the interview, Ermita fended off renewed calls for the President to step down as well as threats of impeachment against her on the heels of her admission. Ermita said certain sectors, particularly the opposition, will exploit every opportunity to put the President in a bad light. “Well lalong lalo na yung mga opposition, they will always think of something that is maaring maging basis for anything that is against the President. Di pa nga naguumpisa ang hearing, sabi nila dapat si President step down and call for snap elections, makikita ninyo ang agenda nila is always like that," Ermita said. Despite calls for the President to step down, Ermita said the current political situation is not enough to trigger another People Power revolution, saying numerous factors remain missing. - GMANews.TV