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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
“Don’t back off!” Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
urged former Speaker Jose de Venecia Monday on reports that de
Venecia was still looking for the “proper time” to talk about
the aborted $329-million national broadband network contract with
ZTE, a Chinese firm.
“Manong Joe, don’t back off. The time is now
ripe for you to come out. There will be suspicions if you
don’t,” he said in an appeal to de Venecia through the media.
This developed after de Venecia declined to come
out in the open at this time, for fear that the Arroyo
administration might fall apart.
United Opposition President and Makati Mayor
Jejomar Binay on Monday also told de Venecia that instead of
“waiting for the right time,” the former Speaker should divulge
all the information he knows on the broadband deal.
Cayetano, chairman of the Senate blue-ribbon
committee that is investigating the broadband deal, also urged de
Venecia “not to do a Neri,” in reference to former Socioeconomic
Planning Secretary Romulo Neri who had refused to resume his
testimony before the blue ribbon on what he knew about the aborted
program.
Cayetano said that Neri had talked with Senators
Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal, some congressmen and other
personalities, but clammed up when he testified before the
blue-ribbon.
“I am hoping that Manong Joe will make good
what he told me and other senators—that he will talk,” he added.
De Venecia had said that he was being very
careful talking about the broadband deal because it could cause the
downfall of the Arroyo administration. President Gloria Arroyo and
de Venecia used to be political allies but parted ways after the
speaker’s son gave a testimony on the broadband contract that
implied the connection of Jose Miguel Arroyo to the deal. Mr. Arroyo
is the President’s husband.
Cayetano, however, indicated that the
blue-ribbon committee would not be concerned at all should de
Venecia’s testimony cause the fall of the President.“Our job is
to search for the truth,” Cayetano said.
Alias Alex no longer needed Cayetano said that
his committee might no longer need the testimony of “Alias Alex”
on the “surprise” visit of President Arroyo to the ZTE
headquarters in Shenzhen, China on November 2, 2006, five months
before she witnessed the signing of the contract with ZTE.
He said that there is a threat to the security
of “Alias Alex” and that Malacañang had already admitted the
President’s visit.
“We agree that Alex need no longer testify.
The Palace had already confirmed what he had said. Alex was outside
during the meeting [with ZTE officials] while JDV [Jose de Venecia]
was inside so we will just hear from JDV,” he said.
At the House of Representatives, Palawan Rep.
Abraham Mitra said de Venecia “does not have any credibility
anymore and everything he says will just come out as sourgraping.”
Malacañang said it is not worried about the
possible testimony of de Venecia on the broadband deal, because
President Arroyo has nothing to hide.
“There is no need to worry about it . . . The
president has nothing to hide, but in case the former speaker wants
to testify the palace can’t do anything about it.” Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.
Ermita said he believes de Venecia knows where
he stands and what will be good for the country.
-- With Sammy Martin and Angelo S. Samonte
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