Press Release
October 26, 2007

KIKO ASSAILS NERI'S NO-SHOW AT NBN HEARING:

"They're only inviting more intrigues and speculations."

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan denounced the absence of Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri at today's Senate hearing on the NBN ZTE deal, following more allegations from Jose de Venecia III as to the involvement of the first couple and Neri on the broadband scandal.

"What's happening now is that accusations are just mounting and mounting, and we are left with more questions than answers. Paano mabibigyang linaw ang mga isyung ito ng katiwalian at pandarambong kung patuloy namang iniiwasan ng mga idinadawit na opisyal ang pagharap sa Senado? Ano ba talaga ang kinatatakutan ng Palasyo kung hindi naman totoo ang mga alegasyon?" Kiko said.

In today's hearing, de Venecia said Neri told him details of his conversation with PGMA and how the President asked Neri why he did not accept the P200M bribe offered by former COMELEC Chair Benjamin Abalos. De Venecia also suggested that the First Gentleman intervened in the ZTE deal because he was promised $70M in kickbacks.

"All the more we need to get the testimony of both Neri and the First Gentleman. We should afford the FG the opportunity to make his position known to the Committee through a deposition as the Rules of Court allows this if the witness is indeed not in good health. Chair Neri on the other hand should stop invoking executive privilege in refusing to answer questions regarding PGMA's involvement in the approval of the botched contract," Kiko added.

"The continued refusal of the Executive to fully cooperate in the hearings is a disservice to the people. Not only are they digging their own graves because they're inviting more intrigues and speculations, they are also creating confusion among the public and depriving them their right to information to matters of public interest and important legislation," Kiko ended.

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