UP employees stage picket, urge Neri to tell the 'truth'

MANILA, Philippines - Employees of the University of the Philippines (UP) staged a picket early Thursday morning in a bid to exert pressure on Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Romulo Neri to tell the truth regarding the controversial $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal. The picket was timed with a scheduled meeting of the UP Board of Regents which Neri attended. Neri, as CHED chairman, is chairman of the UP Board of Regents. The Board of Regents held its regular meeting Thursday morning at the UP Quezon Hall. The employees chanted anti-Arroyo slogans and carried placards whose messages ranged from calls for Neri to "tell the truth" to suggestive ones such as "Neri ladlad na (Neri bare all)." "Neri do not protect the evil in Malacañang" and "Neri resign, tell the truth," some of the placards read, according to a report by dzBB radio's Mao dela Cruz. For his part, Neri said he "understands the employees" but chose to let it go. He attended the meeting as scheduled, while his security aides kept an eye on the picketing employees. All UP Workers Union president Clodualdo "Buboy" Cabrera earlier said that the picket was meant to remind Neri about the duties of a true UP official and that he should tell the truth regarding the controversial $329.48-million ZTE broadband network deal. "Nakakahiya bilang isang (taga-)UP nakikipaglaban kami sa katotohanan at hustisya samantalang ang pinakapuno namin ay mukhang gamit ng kasinungalingan ng ating pangulo ngayon. Bilang kawani ng pamahalaan sa amin dapat unahin ang public trust (It is a shame for a UP official to let himself be used in cover-ups. Even as a government official he should place public trust above all else)," Cabrera said in an interview on dzBB radio. The interview came as other concerned UP employees picketed the Quezon Hall, carrying placards demanding that Neri tell the truth about the ZTE national broadband network deal mess. They also said that if Neri could not tell the truth, he should quit his post. "Dapat magbitiw siya kung di kaya isiwalat ang nalalaman sa NBN ZTE deal (If he cannot tell the truth, he should resign from his post)," Cabrera said. Neri has remained silent regarding the details of the deal, citing executive privilege. The Supreme Court earlier this week upheld his right to invoke the principle. Senators investigating the case are now preparing to file a motion for reconsideration and are mulling other legal options. But lawmakers admitted this has delayed the holding of the next hearing on the matter. The next Senate hearing had been initially scheduled for next week. - GMANews.TV