Senators who hope that Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri could provide the missing piece in the story that would “directly link” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) deal are in for a big disappointment.
Neri indicated on Sunday that he had nothing more to say to the Senate committees investigating the $329-million contract for the NBN project that was awarded to China’s ZTE Corp.
“The Senate grilled me for 12 hours. Did they miss on any significant question?’’ he said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) when asked if he had said everything he needed to say to the senators.
Neri was the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) when the NBN project was approved and the deal signed.
Neri noted that he had said all that he would have to say given the confidential nature of his conversations with the President about the NBN project.
He asked the senators to respect the principle of confidentiality.
Malacanang expressed confidence on Sunday that Neri would not reveal something potentially damaging to the chief executive.
“We trust Secretary Neri in his good sense and his sense of duty to his President,” Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde said in a phone interview.
Neri’s insistence on invoking executive privilege to evade questions on the President’s involvement is setting the stage for a collision course with the Senate.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who heads the joint inquiry into the NBN deal, said the blue ribbon, trade and defense committees would discuss on Monday how to challenge Neri’s continued invoking of executive privilege.
Under Executive Order No. 464, executive privilege covers “confidential or classified information” between the President and her officials.
If there was nothing controversial in his conversations with Ms Arroyo about the ZTE proposal, Neri would not have invoked executive privilege to evade questions during his testimony in the Senate on Wednesday, according to senators.
The President witnessed the signing of the contract for the NBN project between Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ZTE vice president Yu Yong in Boao, China on April 21.
Documents coming to light showed that President Arroyo’s involvement in the ZTE deal was more than superficial.
Officials records submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee showed that Arroyo authorized two Cabinet secretaries to negotiate for the award of the NBN project to ZTE months before NEDA began its evaluation of the project, according to the news website of GMA News and Public Affairs.
GMA News said that four days before formal talks with ZTE started, the President brought the ZTE chair to Cotabato City as her special guest at the joint Cabinet-regional Development Council meeting on July 8, 2006.
The President told residents of the city that ZTE would invest $1 billion in telecommunications and other projects in the country.
Four days later, she signed a “special authority” document giving Trade Secretary Peter Favila “full powers” to “negotiate, conclude and sign, for and on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines the award of investments projects , including the NBN, to ZTE International Investment Corp., ZTE Corp.’s sister firm.
On the eve of the signing of the contract in China, the President granted Mendoza “full powers and authority to sign, execute and deliver, in accordance with the law, for and on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines the contract for the supply of equipment and services for” the NBN project between the Department of Transportation and Communications and ZTE Corp.
Remonde said Neri and the Palace could “possibly” meet again before the next Senate hearing on the NBN deal with ZTE to discuss Neri’s authorization to invoke executive privilege in refusing to disclose certain information.
Neri earlier testified in the Senate last week that Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. offered him P200 million to endorse the ZTE proposal to undertake the NBN project.
But he did not say why the President continued to favor ZTE’s proposal in spite of the bribe offered to him.
Remonde said Neri was upset about the Philippine Daily Inquirer story on the executive session (closed door meeting) in the Senate in which the former NEDA chief was reported to be close to speaking more about the controversial ZTE contract.
Four Inquirer sources said Neri was “on the verge” of disclosing the rest of his account on the alleged lobbying and bribery involving the $329 million NBN deal when Sen. Joker Arroyo and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. allegedly intervened.
On radio dzBB Sunday, Senator Arroyo described as “completely false” Inquirer’s headline that he intervened to prevent Neri from divulging the President’s role in the NBN deal during the Sept. 26 Senate executive session.
The strict confidentiality of the closed-door executive session has been compromised by some senators who spoke to the Inquirer on condition of anonymity, according to Arroyo.
He himself neither confirmed nor denied the details given by the Inquirer sources about what transpired during the closed-door executive session.
He said he would answer the allegations and confront his colleagues during the next public hearing on the deal probably on Thursday.
Remonde said Neri called him up Sunday morning to complain, and they spoke for about five to 10 minutes. He said Neri did not talk about what happened at the executive session, and he did not ask.
“He feels the story is trying to drive a wedge between him and the President,” Remonde said. “He feels he’s being unduly pressured to say what people want him to say.”
Remonde said that Neri thought some people had a preconceived notion about the truth, and when Neri’s statements did not hew to their notions, the former NEDA chief was accused of hiding something.
He said he advised Neri to keep his cool, and described the latter as a good man, adding: “He’s so good he couldn’t hurt a fly.”
For his part, Andaya decried what he said was the impression that he had just barged in at the executive session with Neri.
Andaya, however, said he could not comment about the Inquirer’s account of what had transpired during the executive session, and lamented the “leak” about the session.
“I cannot disclose anything what happened inside,” he said in a phone interview. “What is lamentable here is that some people could leak information, but is it true? I cannot refute it because I will break the rules,” the budget secretary said.
Reports from Juliet Labog-Javellana, Leila B. Salaverria and Dona Pazzibugan
Really? Nothing more to say? Have they cut his tongue too?
If he thinks that by sealing his puckered lips to protect Gloria, it will protect him, for a so-called brilliant mind, he’s not really thinking.
Doesn’t he realize that this act of his has just emboldened the Macapagal-Arroyos to bully him all the more? Doesn’t he realize that all the more they will humiliate him because he’s lost the last ouce of respect that even those scallawags in Malacanang have of him?
Where is your self-respect Mr Neri?
By saying the truth, he’s got everything to gain, not only in terms of prestige among his peers but also the respect of even his ‘enemies’?
Why does Neri prefer and insist on losing all that by playing the coward card?
Where is your self-respect Mr Neri?
And what do mean AdeBrux, they already did his….? hehe..
BTW, I’m not so convinced this Congressional Inquiry is capable of digging facts as compare to an Independent Judicial Inquiries, where anyone could lie, still the Inquiry can call others to repudiate all the lies and come up with the Clear Picture of what really transpired. I followed up the Inquiry regarding Secret commission to some of Public Official in the City IT lease and the main subject of the inquiry lied and was able to convince his family circles to tell half-truths (or half-lies) to corroborate his own lying, but the Judge Madame Justice Bellamy, upon studying testimonies of all parties of Interest, concluded in her Reports that the said Subject Was worthy to be called Pinocchio and that his nose grew longer as he Lied telling Lies. and the man ambition to be a City Mayor has gone forever as he ended in the very Last even before the Judge submitted her report. And it was for a reported amount of $25 thousands and the man was so stupid, because he is already a Millionaire (by his wife) and the prospect to go all the way to Ottawa…
Vic,
Evrything and everyone does in this government is and will always remain suspect.
The Independent Judicial Inquiries would be good if something will come out of it – true we may be pre-empting the outcome but really, I have no faith in any group, committee, whatever that Gloria and her govt will form to look into this because to my mind, Gloria taints everything that she does, no one is brave enough to do anything that will compromise her.
Our Senate inquiries seems to be the only avenue to even create a crack in that impregnable wall of courruption, financial and moral, that Gloria has created.
# AdeBrux Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 1:36 am
Really? Nothing more to say? Have they cut his tongue too?
***
No, Anna. Gloria made him eat his own tongue! Ganyan siya kaduwag!
Well, since Neri’s balls, este his toungue pala has been chopped, Bondoc is doing it for him in his column “I understand why Neri couldn’t talk”
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Opinion&p=49&type=2&sec=25&aid=20070930131
“He (Neri) said Joey de Venecia was brave to implicate big names, adding that if push comes to shove the young whistleblower fortunately has a rich dad to fall back on. “I’m not affluent,” Romy stated the obvious. Neither am I, I reminded him. Whereupon, he shot back: “Oh, but you’re a journalist, you’re supposed to be dedicated to the truth.”
Bondoc then wrote “Yes, in this calling our first instinct is to truth and justice, at all costs.”
There’s the truth: Neri is scared to be poor! But does he believe that having said half-truths during the senate hearing entitle him to a Gloria ‘reward’?
Doesn’t he realize that he probably gambled and lost all – yes, he’ll be a pauper on all levels, morally, financially, respectability, etc.
Neri, you are stupid!
So stupid, I wouldn’t even recommend you to be a head desk clerk in a supermarket!
First, they cut his dick and now his tongue. I’m sorry but my frustration has reached a boiling point that if I see this Neri, I’ll burn his balls.
Hahayaan na lang ba natin ang kalokohan ng mga Arroyo? Kung ganoon totoo yong sabi ni klasmeyt Clinton ….. na takot tayo sa surot na yan. Hayaan na lang natin na nakawin nila lahat ang kaya nilang nakawin. Kalimutan na lang natin ang mga kanilang nakakasulasok na gawain. Ganon ba ang ibig sabihin ang Neri na yan at pati na ang mga cabinet members. Wala man lang ni isa ang tumayong magsabi sa surot na yan ng BACK OFF!!!!!!
Kaya ba nila ginawang “Fall Guy” si Abalos dahil alam nila na next year magre-retire na siya? Ganoon ba? At pag-retire ba niya dehins na siya puwedeng galawin? At kung walang pumirma sa impeachment case niya sa Kongreso e ibig sabihin save na siya? Ganoon ba? Papatawarin na lang ba natin siya? Bakit ba may mga batas pa tayo na sinusunod kung ang kinikilingan naman ay yong mga nagkakasala at yong walang sala ang nakukulong o nabibitay. E kung huwag na lang natin sundin ang batas tayo na’t magnakaw, pumatay, mandaya at kung ano ano pang kabulastugan ay ating gawin total hindi naman tayo paparusahan as per our rule of law (Glorya’s Law). Kaya pala pati mga Pari tumatanggap na rin ng suhol kasi alam nila oks yon sa Glorya’s Law. Kaya tayo na’t magnakaw, pumatay , mandaya … at marami pang iba safe tayo niyan sa Glorya’s Law.
FYI, GMA was rushed to hospital or underwent medical check up.
That coincides with her scheduled trip to China this week. Bigla na lang nagkasakit ang Impakta. Faking illness again to avoid making this China trip due to the ZTE deal investigation?
Kakainis %^$^%#^$#&%&$^%$&^%*&$&%$#&^%*&^*&*^ nila!!!!!!!
Etnad, with you permission I would like to translate what you wrote above kasi hindi nila naiintindihan ang mga sinulat mo.
….Kakainis ang mga gago at putang ina nila !!!
Anna,
Thanks for the link. Sabi ko na nga ba e, Neri is more scared to be poor than of Ermita’s mga ‘bata’ monitoring his moves.
His only protection was the truth, but he shoved it away. Bad choice, magdusa ka lalo!
If only he told the truth, and as a result Gloria kicked him out of CHED which was actually a demotion, I’m pretty sure AIM or even UP and some known universities will be glad to employ him.
Maybe, he gets more from Gloria’s rule!
If Neri wanted the truth out as he told Jarius Bondoc, even if he’s scared he should have thought of asking the Senate for witness protection. He has lots of friends before his mess up, they were ready to help protect him, too.
Neri was reported to have called Remonde after EK announced the appointment of ‘someone’ as Neda director-general. Dobleng sakit! Iyan ang napapala ng mga duwag.
Galing mo Igang’ pechanco. Na-decrypt mo yong isinulat ko. Ayoko kasing sabihin kasi nagagalit si Ellen …
Chi,
Neri’s half truths to me did him more harm than if he hadn’t said anything at all.
He’s having ratted half truths are a measure of the man he is and will always be: half a man. If he hadn’t said anything at all, then he would have lambasted in media but his self-respect intact, idiotic as it may seem, because he would have remained a man in the eyes of many and not a rat.
If Neri thinks this will blow over and that he will rise out of the ZTE ashes unscathed – he’s wrong. In this fiasco, he had more to lose than anyone of the protagonists in the affair because it showed how utterly coward he is – NOBODY, not even the crooks would ever trust him again.
Hence he lost on all fronts. Terribly poor, poor judgement and they say he is a brilliant technocrat? I doubt it.
Ooops, “SURE, he would have BEEN lambasted in media but…”
Etnad;
Close ang translation ko sa sinulat mo.
Seniora Neri–El es un mentiroso y la necesidad pateticos de ser el rubor en el lavabo.——–he is a pathetic liar and need to be flushed in the toilet.
Anna,
I agree with everything you said. He did not weigh the situation, he got all the wrong moves!
My hubby was telling me that Neri did all the harm to himself. Buti pa raw na he asked Abalos for the P200M cash bribe, signed the ZTE, resigned and left Pinas. And then, magpasarap sa Mexico habang merong imbestigasyon. Heheh! (He’s just kidding me)
Ngayon, kahit saan siya pumunta people will recognized him as ‘that coward one’.
Yup, sino ba ang susugal sa isang ‘rat’? No one!
“The Senate grilled me for 12 hours. Did they miss on any significant question?’
NO, the Senators didn’t miss any, hindi mo pa lang sinasagot ang “significant questions”!
Chi;
A liar is not believed even though he tells the truth. Neri’s first and last love is his self love. He practice sex in the palm of his hand
Chi,
Your hubby is absolutely right!
Cocoy, not his palm. Neri knows Yoga and he can bend down to below his waist and play with his mouth. Etnad, you’re welcome. Next time you want to say it let me know and I shall translate for you.
pechanco;
OOOOOOPS!,I never thought it was that long.hehehehe!
Cocoy,
Half liar lang si Neri (kasi di niya binulgar si Gloria), but a complete fool!
pechanco;
Mi Amigo!Frequent conversations will fill your heart with joy.
I think Ellen doesn’t mind the kind of jokes we write here as long as it’s not long. Huwag daw mahaba ang sulat ’cause it’s not readable and people get turned off. Kaya puro maikli na lang ang mga sulat natin ha?
pechanco and Chi;
Agree!As long as we never hesitate to tackle the most difficult problems.God is with us.In God we trust,others pay cash.
Just a friendly reminder, Cocoy and the rest who love to write long novel here: Ayaw ni Ellen ng kilometric comments. You’re in the US Cocoy so you might be exempted. You use mile measurement over there, right? Hindi naman kilometer.
Si Neri maikli ang sinabi sa hearing kasi maikli ang ano niya…
pechanco;
Neri adapted the Chinese secret–Long talk,long mistakes!No talk,no mistakes.The only certainty is that nothing is certain.
You forgot to add “Short talk, short mistakes.”
Si Gloria naman: Short size, long mistakes.
What a mockery of justice! Can’t understand really why they cannot just send these crooks to jail. Ang dami-dami pang tsetseburetse.
Over in Japan, nobody can be above the law. The only ones exempted from immediate prosecution, I guess, are the members of the Japanese Imperial Family, that is why they are isolated from the rest of the society to protect them likewise from doing things they are not allowed to do under the laws of the land and/or customs and traditions governing the Imperial Household.
Otherwise, all are subject to the law, and we, the non-royalty including the Prime Minister, cannot be above the law. Sa Pilipinas, as you say, Ellen, umaarte pang akala mo siya ang Diyos! Purbida man gid!
OK, so we are not encouraging violence here but for how are Filipinos willing to be subjugated by these criminals who are acting like gods? How will Filipinos get rid of them if not by force?
Kawawang bansa!
Why are the members of the Japanese Imperial Family exempted from immediate prosecution? Because of their status? Okay, hindi immediate prosecution o agad-agad but they still will be prosecuted di ba? Was there any instance or record in the past that a member of the Japanese Imperial family got prosecuted?
Kahit hindi na magsalita si Neri, andiyan naman si last hurrah Abaloslos. Sa tingin ko ay dapat mag-ingat siya dahil kung maubusan ng trick ang Malacanang sa pagiwas sa ZTE deal, hindi malayo ang possibility na ipatiklop siya nitong mga criminal. Maraming alam si ABaloslos. Ganyan naman sa mundo ng mga kriminal, para walang mag-rat, patayin na lang ang mga taong may alam.
Martina
Tama ka dyan, hindi na kailangang magsalita ni Neri dahil silence means yes sa mga hinalang kaaliwaswasan ng tropa ni Gloria at kasama na siya rin. Silence means yes sa sinabi sa kanya “Sec, may 200 ka dito.” D as in dollars ito. Silence means yes na tinakot siya ng Malacanang mafia kaya urong ang kanyang hmmm, kaya executive privilege ang hinarbat. Walang pwedeng makalusot na palusot dito sa Ellenville.
Kapag nagsalita itong si Ermita, wala nang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig kundi kapalpakan. Ermita is now calling a stop to the ongoing Senate hearing on ZTE deal due to very high security risk. Habang kinakaladkad daw itong kaso ay lalong nanganganib ang apat ng sulok ng bansa sa security. Kaya dapat daw itigil na. Tangna kang tanda ka!
Dalawa ang kinatatakutan ni Neri: mawalan ng trabaho at tuluyang tiklupin ni Gloria.
Kung nagsabi siya ng truth and nothing but, papaligiran siya ng physical protection ng mga tao. Wala siyangn magagawa ngayon kundi magkaroon ng sore eyes sa kaiiyak.
… but for how LONG are Filipinos willing to be subjugated by these criminals?…
That has also been my question: How long? How long shall the Filipino people suffer? I called for Revolution and Ellen reprimanded me for obvious reason. Baka mapahamak itong blog.
Ang revolution naman nasa isip ko isang mapayapang paraan. If it worked at Edsa One and Two, I don’t see why it cannot be repeated today when the sins of this GMA are 100 times more than the other two ousted leaders.
Pechanco: Why are the members of the Japanese Imperial Family exempted from immediate prosecution?
*****
It’s a long story. The emperor, though now deemed merely as a symbol of unity of the Japanese nation, by tradition, there is a special rules and sets of laws applied to them. Even registration of the members of the Imperial Household is separate from the registry of the commoners, us.
It is well-guarded society and the purpose, I guess, is to prevent them from committing things mortals (commoners) like us are prone to be exposed to. In a way, it is a dull life, walang challenge but just what customs and traditions dictate.
There are lots of protocols, do’s and dont’s that they follow kaya iyong mga commoner na napapangasawa nila nasisiraan ng bait, etc. if they cannot take the rigors, etc. of life living beneath the high walls of the Imperial Palace. But even that, the press is not allowed to publish in Japanese newspapers. It’s a privilege most Japanese would like to grant the emperor, who is BTW thought of having descended from the gods.
As for anyone of the imperial family getting into deep shit, I don’t remember reading any. There were stories of assassinations and attempts to assassinate the emperor especially before WWII especially when they get into politics as in the case of a noble named “Prince Saionji” who became Prime Minister of Japan twice in 1906-08, and in 1911-1912.
…there is a set of special rules….
I should add, the laws of the land presently does not allow any exemption to the rule, and that is what democracy is supposed to be all about.
The members of the imperial household are not exempted from criminal procedings if they commit crimes, for which I guess certain rules have been adopted to prevent them from getting involved in any crime. Fortunately, none so far of the Imperial Family has gotten hitched with the law, not even a traffic violation. Otherwise, it will be big news, domestically and internationally!
# ystakei Says:
October 1st, 2007 at 6:57 am
… but for how LONG are Filipinos willing to be subjugated by these criminals?…
***
For as long as the betrayed citizenry feel the trauma of Edsa 2 that brought about Gloria! Who knows?
Thanks for the link, Anna. I posted it separately. Philippine Star has no archives.
Thanks for sharing that info about the Japanese Imperial Family, ystakei. Of course you would agree with me that we have no way of knowing what’s going on inside the family since as you said it’s a guarded secret. There might be lots of shit going on that we don’t know. Sorry to say that but they’re like humans like us, aren’t they? Kaya kahit na may nangyayaring masama sa loob hindi natin alam. Bawal kasi malaman. Is there a chance or any possibility in the future that the Imperial Family be made to disappear? Makikita natin sa kasaysayan na may mga customs and traditions din na unti-until nawala o nawala lahat. As modern days progress, iba na ang pag-iisip ng mga tao especially the youth. We don’t know for sure what the next generation would think and do.
I will allow curses here, ngayon lang because I understand tthe need for what dean bocobo calls “scream therapy”. Otherwise I don’t want it to be a habit.
Yuko, take note that I edit out some terms in your comments like “Neri-regla”. I find it gross.
Thanks Ellen. Until how long do you allow us to curse? I need a long term “scream therapy”. Excuse me, ystakei’s “Neri-regla” was not too bad. Cute nga ang termino. Just my opinion, though.
OK, Ellen, just thought I’d adopt Myrna’s monicker for this creep. I’d stick then to puwet ng manok!
Pechanco:
I don’t think they are killing each other there since they are just a few of them royalty left. I doubt if they will do anything really bad for the Imperial Household staff to try to cover up for them.
The only scandal-like thing happening there recently in fact is the nervous breakdown of the Crown Princess. It was her own parents, still commoners themselves, who have asked for consideration for her to the public and the press.
Yes, they may be humans like you and me, but they are well-guarded and not allowed to be really be free. Para na rin silang nakakulong as a matter of fact.
On the whole, they are very disciplined. Even when the Crown Prince was out of the country in Oxford for example, never did he do anything that his people and country would be shamed. Pirming may kadikit na special police. In fact, two of my good friends were his guards, and they love talking to me about their stay at Oxford.
In short, iba naman sila doon sa mga royalties ng UK.
Yea, that lovely US educated Crown Princess. Balita ko she’s suffering from depression. She just had a baby, right? Thanks for sharing again.
Crown Princess Masako is not only educated in the US. She was educated in the USSR, etc. as well. The father was a diplomat and she would go to schools in country where his father was assigned. Due to her father’s postings, Masako attended kindergarten in Moscow, elementary school in New York and Tokyo, and secondary school in Tokyo and Boston. Kaya hindi siya puedeng solohin ng America.
She was summa cum laude at Harvard U. Then, she went to Tokyo University and enrolled at the Faculty of Law there. Then, when she was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was sent to study at Balliol College at Oxford University. I think it was one of the considerations when she was to be the Crown Prince’s partner. The Crown Prince went to Merton, also in Oxford.
The Empress, on the other hand, suffered some ailment, likewise, when she was younger, but she was made of stronger stuff, I guess. Besides, she never went to any American school.
I don’t know if the weaker mental state of the Crown Princess has anything to do with her education in US, where there are a lot many psychos, or not.
As for your question about the daughter, she was born in
2001 and no longer a toddler.
“Neri-regla” was not too bad.
“Neri-rules” in Spanish.
Sorry, this should be, “where HER father was assigned.”
I’m just amazed at how the crooks in the Philippines can now invoke immunity, privacy, etc. when they are related to the criminal at the palace by the murky river some way or another. Not even in the US do they practice that, I guess. That is why they tell their children, spouses, etc. to be careful when they are at the White House. So it is in this land that actually started at the same footing as the Philippines with laws drafted, etc. by the Americans, and let the natives pass and implement them. But then, of course, Philippine laws were changed during the Martial Law and made much more easier to break after 1986! What a louse!
If you plan to be a crook in the Philippines… make sure you steal BILLIONS! If you simply steal MILLIONS, you end up in jail because there is not enough money to pay your way out! HAve you ever heard of gambling lords or drug lords being hauled in court? NEVER! That is how honest the justice system is in the Philippines!