New ZTE probe witness part of ‘bigger script’ - DOJ chief

MANILA, Philippines - The emergence of a new witness in the $329.48-million ZTE broadband deal mess is turning out to be part of an elaborate script, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Thursday. Gonzalez said that so far, it has been Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, who is identified with the political opposition, who has been doing all the talking for the witness. "They are doing this in installments, as if this is really a planned thing which is being designed para humaba nang humaba ang usapang yan (just so the ZTE issue will drag on)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. As for the witness so far identified only as Alex, Gonzalez asked what he was doing there, adding Alex may have even been "planted" there to take pictures. But he admitted they still do not know at this time the identity of the witness, who he said could have been "coached." "Lahat yan ay appear to be a mystery at this point. Kung sino may pakawala diyan o may isang nandoon from the beginning tapos nagbigay sa grupo ni Suplico and then na-coach ang taong yan magsalita, whatever. Obviously what he is saying is hearsay (All of this appears to be a mystery at this point. It could a deep penetration agent, it could be someone coached by Suplico's group, whatever. What is obvious at this point is that what he is saying is hearsay)," he said. Suplico had said the witness furnished him photos of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo at a side trip to Shenzhen in China. Citing details given by "Alex," Suplico said the first couple and then poll chairman Benjamin Abalos went on the side trip in November 2006, where they met with officials of ZTE Corp. At the time, ZTE was supposedly one of the bidders in the Philippine government's national broadband network project. But Gonzalez questioned the timing of the witness, whose claims he said has so far given "conclusions drawn on the basis of circumstances." "Merong talagang script yan, at a given point doon ka, pagdating sa isang kanto doon ka rin (It appears to be following a script. At a given point, this witness comes out. At another point, another witness surfaces)," he said. "They are conclusions drawn on the basis of circumstances, they do not really point to anything concrete. As to what was the reason for the meeting, it can be a social meeting," he added. Gonzalez added he expected Suplico's claims to be "biased" because he had been connected with the opposition. "As of this time ang lahat na nalalaman natin yan ang sinasabi ni Suplico. Ang conclusion ni Suplico is the conclusion of a man who is biased (As of this time everything we know about what the witness is saying came from Suplico. And Suplico's conclusion is the conclusion of a man who is biased)," he said. He also said he saw nothing wrong with Mrs Arroyo visiting a certain place and meeting with businessmen. "Siguro naman everytime a figure like a president of a country will visit a certain place, marami parati yan. Tuwing punta si presidente, businessmen gather to listen to her (Every time a president of a country visits a certain place, businessmen gather to listen to her)," he said. - GMANews.TV