Press Release
May 7, 2009

Gordon assures impartial report on NBN-ZTE mess probe

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today assured impartiality on the committee report on the Senate blue ribbon committee's probe into the anomalous $329-million National Broadband Network-ZTE project.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said that he will not let other incidents, like the perjury case faced by NBN-ZTE deal witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jr., to affect the findings, conclusions and recommendations in the report his committee is preparing.

During the committee hearings on the botched broadband project, Gordon intently observed the proceedings and participated actively, remaining firm but fair, serious and sincere.

"I am currently on the third draft of the committee report. I am not rushing things because I want to make sure that the result of the Senate investigation is fair," he said.

"I don't want to be influenced by the events involving Jun Lozada because that is a different issue. The Senate investigation is about the malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance of government officials involved in the NBN-ZTE deal," he added.

Last April 29, police authorities arrested Lozada for the perjury case filed against him by former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor. He was detained at the Manila Police District Integrated Jail.

On Thursday, Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 granted a motion filed by senators to transfer Lozada to the custody of the Senate.

Gordon said he is not going to be affected or influenced by these events because he must ensure that the report remains objective and fair not only to Lozada but to everyone involved in the multi-million scam.

Gordon said that like in the committee report on the fertilizer fund scam, the NBN-ZTE deal report will also include proposed legislative remedial measures aimed at plugging loopholes in the country's laws.

In the committee report on the anomalous P728-million fertilizer fund project, Gordon recommended the immediate filing of charges against those responsible for the scam, led by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante. The report also included proposed amendments to the country's laws, such as the Anti-Money Laundering Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Act, the Government Procurement Act, and the Omnibus Election Code.

News Latest News Feed