Commentary: JDV insistence for Senate to invite FG on ZTE, a challenge to Ombudsman

Manila (August 31) — Several legislators chided former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for insisting that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee invite First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to testify on the failed national broadband network (NBN) deal with ZTE Corp. of China.

The lawmakers said the planned resumption of hearing by the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon assails the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision giving Mr. Arroyo and some other top government officials a clean bill on the NBN mess.

“By urging Senator Gordon to push through with the hearing on Tuesday with Mr. Arroyo in attendance, De Venecia challenges and assails the Ombudsman’s ruling indirectly”, the sources said.

That would be grossly unfair not only to the First Gentleman, but with the other officials who were already cleared by the anti-graft body,” they added.

“The Ombudsman has spoken. Candidates for political office should start using other ways of getting public attention than hitting a family who will be out of Malacañang in 10 months,” Rep. Antonio Alvarez of the 1st District of Palawan said.

Politicians who have been exploiting the NBN-ZTE controversy to gain media mileage should start looking for other issues to push their political agenda, the Solon added.

Alvarez pointed out that if the Ombudsman had indicted Mr. Arroyo for alleged influence peddling, then the former Speaker, along with his son and namesake Joey and so-called whistle-blower Jun Lozada should likewise be indicted for the same offense, on the strength of their own statements that they also tried to sway the NBN transactions their way.

According to Alvarez, the De Venecia’s have admitted that they pulled some strings, cut corners, called up some people, wrote incriminating letters and offered enticements to influence the outcome of the transactions. “Such acts constitute actionable offenses and they could be held liable for their misdeeds,” he stressed.

“At this point in time, it may be prudent to leave the First Family alone since President Arroyo’s tenure would end in just about 10 months,” he said.

In its 51-page ruling, the Ombudsman said there was no sufficient evidence to file charges against the First Gentleman, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Undersecretary Lorenzo Formozo, Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja and the ZTE officials.

The Ombudsman recommended, however, the filing of graft suits against Social Security System president Romulo Neri and former Elections Commission chair Benjamin Abalos. (PIA)