Press Release
September 29, 2007

SENATORS EXPECT SECRETARY NERI TO MAKE GOOD
ON HIS WORD TO COME BACK FOR ADD'L TESTIMONY

The Senate expects Commission on Higher Education Romulo Neri, also former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, to show up anew at the continuation of the inquiry next week into the $329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal between the government and China's ZTE Corporation.

Reacting to a report that Neri is being dissuaded by Malacañang from further testifying before the Senate, Pimentel said the Cabinet member had given his word that he will return.

Pimentel said that Neri was allowed to go home because the former NEDA chief felt very ill.

"We could see that he was really sick and we did not want a sick man in our hands," he said. "And that's the reason he was allowed to go home on the promise that he will come back."

The minority leader said they have no reason to doubt Neri's word to return for the continuation of his testimony.

Pimentel said Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos has also been asked to come back because there are still a number of questions that the senators want him to answer.

Neri testified that Abalos had offered him a P200 million bribe in exchange for the NEDA endorsement of the NBN deal. He said he lost no time in informing the President about the bribe offer and the latter told him not to entertain the offer.

But beyond that, Neri declined to respond to the queries of the senators about the President's role in the scandalous transaction.

Pimentel pointed out that the principle of executive privilege may be invoked in refusing to reveal certain information during congressional inquiry if national security may be jeopardized.

He said executive privilege may be invoked by a Cabinet member duly authorized by the President on specific questions that are asked of him or her.

Once this is invoked, he said the senators will have to follow through and decide whether or not the statement or information being sought by them is indeed covered by executive privilege.

"When Cabinet members are invited to a Senate inquiry and before coming they may ask the President - What do I say, what do I do?" But once they are here, they can no longer say I have to consult with the President. That would in effect be a limitation on the oversight function of the Senate and we will not allow that to happen," Pimentel said.

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