Press Release
March 10, 2008

KIKO URGES OMBUDSMAN PANEL INVESTIGATING THE ZTE DEAL TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND ENSURE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

The Office of the Ombudsman investigation on the ZTE-NBN deal must be closely monitored following reports that said proceeding has all the makings of it being rigged in favor of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today said.

"Nakakabahala kasi na mababalitaan nating nagagamit ang Ombudsman para isalba ang iilang tao, kapalit ng katotohanan. It is disturbing that institutions may be used, or have already been used, to cover up for criminal acts. Kung magiging moro-moro lang ang imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman ukol sa maanomalyang ZTE-NBN deal, lalo pang hihina ang tiwala sa mga institusyong tinatakda ng batas na protektahan ang interes ng taumbayan," Kiko said.

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. has already filed before the Ombudsman Office an omnibus motion seeking for the replacement of its panel investigating the ZTE-NBN deal, arguing among others that the team seems to be conducting the inquiry in violation of its own procedure.

"Article XI of the Philippine Constitution expressly mandates that the Office of the Ombudsman must be an independent office, created to ensure public accountability. The enabling law, Republic Act 6770, declares that it is the policy of the State to maintain honesty and integrity in the public service, and that public officers must serve the people with utmost integrity, loyalty, efficiency, act with patriotism and justice. Malinaw naman sa batas. Huwag sanang magamit ang tanggapan ng Ombudsman para sa personal ng interes ng iilan, kung hindi para sa katotohanan at sa bayan. We are hoping that the Office of the Ombudsman will not be used to cast some legal semblance of innocence on those who are not," Kiko ended.

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