KIKO ON THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE PRESENTED BEFORE THE SENATE ON THE ANOMALOUS ZTE DEAL
"Even without lie detector tests, there have been Supreme Court rulings involving criminal cases wherein circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to give reason to a conviction." - Kiko

Circumstantial evidence presented before the Senate inquiry on the anomalous ZTE-NBN deal may still be used to establish facts amidst conflicting claims following Leo San Miguel's testimony, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today said.

"Sending witnesses through lie detector tests will help in establishing the facts. That could add to our understanding to what exactly happened, because of the conflicting positions taken. However, even without lie detector tests, there have been Supreme Court rulings involving criminal cases wherein circumstantial evidence may be sufficient to give reason to a conviction. In the People vs. Asis et al, Circumstantial evidence is akin to tapestry; it should be made up of strands which create a pattern when interwoven. We do have enough circumstantial evidence to have at least a preliminary report," Kiko said.

"The testimonies of witnesses - Jun Lozada, Chairman Neri, Joey de Venecia, Chariman Abalos, Secretary Mendoza, Undersecretary Formoso, Secretary Gary Teves, among others - suggest that Chairman Abalos is involved, that there was a bribe attempt, there was a turnaround on the initially proposed Build Operate Tranfer (BOT) project," Kiko quipped.

Kiko said that the preliminary report he is suggesting would not be final pending the complete testimony of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Romulo Neri.

"We would like to finally see Secretary Neri to testify. His testimony will be included in a final report," Kiko ended.