Pia: "Why is Malacañang afraid to suspend Neri?"

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today criticized the failure of the Arroyo government to immediately carry out the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against former NEDA Secretary General and current Social Security System (SSS) Administrator Romulo Neri in connection with the bribery attempt in the botched $329-million national broadband network deal.

"While there's still a motion for reconsideration pending (filed by Neri), Malacañang should, out of delicadeza, enforce the suspension order now, especially since this case involves ranking public officials close to the First Couple. Their hesitation to implement the order once more indicates a lack of conviction to discipline and prosecute wrongdoers in government," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice.

"Why is Malacañang hedging on the suspension order on Neri? Are they afraid he might finally spill the beans on the First Couple, including their possible direct knowledge in pushing for the NBN-ZTE deal and the reported bribe in exchange for the approval of the anomalous contract? Or is this their way of further pressuring Neri to remain loyal to the administration?"

Cayetano reiterated his call on Neri to make the "ultimate sacrifice" for the country by exposing everything he knows about the NBN-ZTE scandal, even if it would mean implicating powerful officials whom he has shielded from investigation in his testimonies before the Senate.

She added: "It's time he speak up and be his own man. His confession holds the key to his own liberation from all the criticisms and charges being heaped on him. These anomalies can't be kept a secret forever. The long arm of the law is bound to catch up with big-time grafters soon," she concluded.