Press Release
February 7, 2008

Pia urges GMA to show accountability over ZTE deal overpricing

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take responsibility for the irregularities surrounding the National Broadband (NBN) deal in light of the revelations of principal witness Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr.

"The latest revelations of Mr. Lozada further established how powerful people around the President had contributed to the gross overpricing of the NBN-ZTE deal.

"It's time for President Arroyo herself to show some sense of responsibility by explaining before the public what she knows about this deal.

"The situation has already reached such proportions that people are already disgusted with the denials and counter-allegations of the President's alter egos against the Senate's principal witnesses, particularly Joey De Venecia and now, Jun Lozada," she said.

Cayetano also decried as "baseless and self-serving" Malacanang's allegation that the Senate ZTE probe was really meant to destabilize the government and bring down the Arroyo administration.

"It is incredulous that Malacanang even has the gall to call senators pushing the ZTE probe as destabilizers. If that is the case, then they must have already lost interest in going after big-time grafters in government, who are the ones really bringing destabilization to our country.

"The more the government denies, the more it loses credibility and the public's trust. President Arroyo should now take the lead and shed light on the truth."

The lady senator also expressed disappointment with how the PNP leadership had even tried to cover up for their kidnapping of Mr. Lozada by insisting that the latter supposedly asked for police protection, even if he obviously did not.

"As a mother, I can imagine the anguish that Mr. Lozada's family must have gone through. The PNP leadership should be made accountable for violating the rights of Jun Lozada.

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