ON THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE ZTE NBN DEAL, KIKO TELLS MALACAÑANG TO BACK OFF!

Amidst calls to wrap up the investigation on the controversial ZTE NBN deal, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator today reiterated his earlier suggestion for the Blue Ribbon Committee to draft a preliminary report.

"We can have a preliminary report as to other matters and issues but a final report cannot be completed without Neri's testimony. Hence a preliminary report can now be drafted but the hearings should be reopened as soon as Neri can be compelled to testify." Kiko said.

"We urge the Supreme Court to resolve the case soonest. With all due respect to the Supreme Court, until and unless our powers to cite a person in contempt and to arrest an uncooperative witness refusing to testify without justifiable grounds is resolved, the Senate has in reality become less than co-equal. We have been rendered ineffective within our jurisdiction." Kiko added.

"Some SC justices correctly pointed out during the oral arguments that the SC should refrain from being a referee in resolving conflicts between the executive and the judiciary but it did so when it issued the status quo ante order. The case must be resolved soonest." Kiko stressed.

"Finally with all due respect to the palace, Malacañang should refrain from commenting on this call for a preliminary report because their comments do not help any and only makes it more difficult for the release of the committee's findings to gain support from my colleagues. Malacañang should back off!" Kiko ended.