Senate hearing on the investigation on the national broadband deal between the government and China's ZTE. Corp.Transcript of testimony of Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. (Part 1)
February 8, 2008
Good morning, everyone.
So let me first tell the Senate what I would say today.
I would first say thank you sa lahat ng taong nagpapalakas ng loob ko. Tapos sabihin ko bakit ako umalis, ano ang nangyari noong bumalik ako at ano ang nalalaman ko tungkol sa ZTE NBN.
Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga taong nagpadala ng mensahe. Sa mga sagot ko ukol sa mga...(crying).
Kaya ako nandito dahil marami na ang nagsisinungaling tungkol sa may kinalaman ako gusto ko na ding matigil iyon kaya nandito ako. Ayaw kong maging dahilan na magkasala pa ang iba sa Diyos at bayan dahil sa akin.
Kaya ako nandito para maliwanagan iyong mga bagay na maraming tao ang nagtatanong. Mabigyan ng liwanag iyong mga bagay na maraming nagtatanong na lubhang nakakaapekto sa Pilipinas, sa kinabukasan ng mga anak natin.
Ang sasabihin ko po dito ay walang malisya kahit kanino. Wala naman akong kalaban.
Sasabihin ko po bakit ako umalis.
Subpoena
Noon po kasing lumabas iyong subpoena ko matagal na akong inimbita ng Senado noong Setyembre pa po di ako pumupunta dahil natatakot ako.
At nagpaalam ako kay Secretary [Romulo] Neri na inimbita na ako. Binanggit po daw yata ako ni Senator [Aquilino] Pimentel tinanong po si Joey [Venecia] daw kung kilala ako at sinabi niyang kilala kaya magmula noong araw na iyon ay natatakot na ako na baka mapunta ako dito.
Sinabi ko kay Secretary Neri iyon at sumulat ako sa DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), kay Secretary [Lito] Atienza na iniimbita ako. At sabi ko kay Secretary Neri na sana ay huwag na akong makarating sa Senado.
Matagal na po iyon. Ang akala ko ay patay na iyong NBN (national broadband network)-ZTE na ito para sana ay tuloy-tuloy na ako doon sa tuba-tuba, masaya po ako doon sa ginagawa kong trabaho.
At noong lumabas na naman iyong subpoena nagsabi na naman ako kay Secretary Neri na ano ang gagawin ko. Bahala na daw ang palasyo sa akin.
So pumunta ako kay Secretary Atienza. Si Secretary Atienza naman ay hindi alam kung ano ang kinalaman ko dito.
Noong pumunta po ako sa office ni Secretary Atienza two days before iyong hearing dito. Tinanong niya ako. Pinapasok niya ako sa room doon sa DENR. Tinanong niya ako, "Jun, ano ba ang kinalaman mo dito?" Sabi ko "Sec, ano ba ang gusto mong kuwento? Iyong salient points lang o from the top?"
Sabi niya sa akin "From the top." So kinuwento ko sa kanya lahat at nang malaman niya, sabi niya kapag kinuwento mo sa publiko ito magagalit sila. Ibibigay mo ang gobyerno na ito sa oposisyon.
So sabi niya, so sabi ko "Secretary, ayaw ko din pong mapunta doon. Hindi ko naman gulo iyan at saka simpleng tao lang ako. Marami na akong death threats."
Sabi niya, "Sige, tingnan natin ano ang magagawa natin na hindi ka makarating doon. Ano ba ang gusto mo?"
Sabi ko ito lang ang gusto kong mangyari. Sana huwag niyo na akong paratingin sa Senado. Tigilan na po iyong death threat sa akin at pangatlo kung ako ay makakarating sa Senado e kilala ko ang sarili ko baka hindi ako makapagsinungaling.
So, Lunes po yata iyon last week.
So noong Martes pumunta ako kay Deputy Executive Secretary (for Legal Affairs Manuel) Manny Gaite because nobody knew my role, very few people knew my role.
So pinaliwanag ulit ako ng mga tao ni Manny Gaite at noong nandiyan tapos sabi nila "Ano ang gusto mo?"
I'd been very consistent sa buhay ko. Sabi ko sa kanila: "Huwag nyo na akong paratingin sa Senado. Itigil ang death threat at kung di niyo mapapatigil ang Senado I have to tell them the truth under oath to God."
Sabi ni Secretary Gaite pinag-aaralan kung ano ang mga legal remedies para huwag akong makarating sa Senado. Sabi ng mga tao ni Gaite na wala silang makitang legal remedy to stop the Senate from getting me.
So they decided right there and then, that’s I think after lunch time, sabi nila kailangang lumabas si Jun.
So inayos nila ang ma travel documents nila pinagawa ako ng travel request pina-antedate at pinaalis ako papuntang Hong Kong.
Akala nila pagkatapos ng hearing na iyon ay for closure report na itong NBN-ZTE makakabalik na ako sa Pilipinas kasi tapos na . Kaya ako umalis. Wala akong balak na mambastos ng senador pero habang ako ay naniniwala na ako ay nasa gobyerno I will toe the government line.
Noong nasa Hong Kong ako napakalamig doon.
So there was once, di ko namatandaan ang araw, tinawagan ako ni Secretary Neri. Kausap niya daw si Medy yata, gumawa daw ako ng sulat para kay Senator [Juan Ponce] Enrile para raw ma-withdraw na iyong motion na arestuhin ako dahil pinapaaresto daw ako.
So pinapagawa ako ng sulat.
E ayaw kong ano dahil hindi ko naman kilala si Senator Enrile at sabi ko magtataka iyon. Bakit ako susulat sa kanya parang best friend na susulatan ko na lang basta basta.
Sabi niya: "Hindi. Sumulat ka na lang, kami na ang bahala." Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isusulat so they texted me what to write.
Hindi ko na lang natago ang text (message) mayroon doon na kasama na din si FG (First Gentleman) na walang kasama si FG doon sa nalalaman ko. Hindi ko sinama iyon kaya pasensya na kayo, Senator Enrile, mali-mali po iyong grammar.
So sabi ko sa kanila gusto ko nang umuwi kasi ang asawa ko alalang-alala na, sabi ko at saka hindi ako makatulog sa Hong Kong. Dalawang oras lang ang tulog ko doon.
So last week po tinawagan ako ni Secretary Atienza. Sabi niya "Kailangan ka ba dapat umuwi, February 7? Sige, umuwi ka na ng February 5. Don’t take iyong maraming tao, iyong alanganin kang oras umuwi."
Ako naman po ay masaya dahil gusto ko namang umuwi na.
Sabi ko: "Secretary paano iyong arrest warrant sa akin?" Sabi niya nakausap na namin si [Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino] Libanan. OK ka na sa immigration. Basta dumire-diretso ka lang hindi ka iho-hold ng immigration tapos pasalubong ka na lang OK ka na."
So iyon ang huling huling usapan namin so kampante ako doon na tapos na ito.
NAIA to Laguna
Pagbaba ko sa eroplano may kumuha sa aking mga lalaki na hindi ko naman kilala.
Ilalabas sana ako sa tarmac diretso. Basta nakapabilis ng pangyayari. Narinig ko lang doon sa radio nila na "Huwag kayong dadaan diyan. Huwag kayong dadaan diyan. Nandiyan ang mga taga-Senado."
So nilihis nila ako. Iniakyat ako sa departure tapos sinakay ulit ako sa elevator, binaba ulit ako sa tarmac. Sinakay ako sa sasakyan. Nagtatanong ako kung saan ako dadalhin. Sabi: "Sir, relax lang. Wala kaming gagawin sa inyo."
So iniikot nila ako. Labas kami, kilala sila ng security ng airport. Very obvious nandoon ang sasakyan namin tapos nilabas nila ako. Inikot-ikot kami doon sa airport tapos dinaan ako sa Fort Bonifacio, sa Villamor tapos inikot kami sa C-5. All the while, may radio. Naririnig nila ang radio doon sa Senado so they are pretty well equipped. Naawa nga ako sa taga-Senado, kuwentuhan sila ng kuwentuhan, naririnig naman sila ng kumuha sa akin.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang sasakyan iyong magkakasama kaming lahat basta marami sila.
Dadahin daw po yata ako sa Dasmariñas, Cavite.
So sinaylent mode ko na ang telepono ko at I texted my brother na may dumukot na sa akin dito. Bicolano po kasi: "May bumunlot na sa akin" so translation "may kumuha na sa akin."
So naturally my family was really alarmed so noong narinig ko na nasa Dasmariñas na, nasa Southwoods na kami, noong marinig kong sa Dasmariñas ako dadalhin naisip ko si [Bubby] Dacer.
So text ako agad sa kapatid ko na i-triangulate niyo kung nasaan itong telephone ko. Telecom enginer ako, may kakayahan ako sa telephone. I could do my best to triangulate and find this signal tapos sinabihan nila ako na: "Sir, tumigil na kayo ng kate-text. Nakukuha din naman namin."
So inikot-ikot pa din nila ako, ang layo na namin, nasa Calamba na kami, nagte-text pa din ako. Sabi ko: "Do your best to find me."
Tapos pinapatay na ang telepono sa akin noong nasa Los Baños na kami. May natanggap silang tawag sabi ng nasa harap ibalik na daw, ibalik na daw at napakainit na ng media. Nagpapasalamat ako sa media na tumulong sa amin.
Noong pabalik na kami tumigil kami sa isang gasoline station. Sabi "Gumawa ka, sir, ng isang sulat na nagre-request ka ng security detail sa amin."
Sabi ko may nakita akong Starbucks. Sabi ko doon sa Starbucks para may lamesa. Makatanggal-tanggal ng konting kaba.
Sabi: "Hindi. Kami po ang lalabas." So lumabas ang isang kasama kumuha ng papel. Naiwan ako sa isang mas bata, masabi ko: "Ikaw, bata ka pa. Huwag kang papagamit sa masama."
So bumalik sila. Pinasulat kamay na namin, "Sir, gumawa ka ng sulat na nagre-request ka ng security sa amin."
So ginawa ko din iyon tapos binalik ako ng Maynila. "Sir, iti-turnover ka na namin sa pulis."
So dinala ako sa Outback (Steak House) sa Libis. Pagdating namin doon, tinernover na ako. Nakilala ko ngayon -- sa pakilala niya sa akin si George pero siya pala si [Senior Superintendent) Paul Mascariñas at saka nandoon si Attorney Bautista. They were supposed to have dinner.
So noong pabalik na, tinawagan ako ni Secretary Atienza. Sabi niya: "Jun, huwag kang mag-alaala. Relax ka lang. Mag-uusap lang kami nila ES at saka ni Ma’am kung ano ang gagawin."
So noong pabalik na ako, relax ka lang. Tapos tumawag din si Secretary Neri. Sabi niya: "Calm your wife down." Sabi ko: "Secretary, she cannot calm down. She has to see me. Dapat makita niya ako kasi hindi titigil iyon."
Pasensiya na kayo dahil sa dami ng death threat. At napatayan na ako ng kapatid noong 2001. Napatay ang kapatid ko, wala ding nangyari.
Sabi ko kay Secretary Neri gusto ko nang umuwi. Sabi niya hindi sumunod so dinala ako sa Outback sa Libis. Nandoon si Atty. Bautista at ang lawyer and they are talking about to it.
Nakikain ako. Iyong unang platong nakita ko kinain ko na sa sobrang gutom ko. Si Atty. Bautista was asking me kung ano, obviously he knows me already, certain questions because he will prepare my affidavit.
So mukhang they’d decided to bring me sa Senate dahil sobrang init na but they want me to sign an affidavit first before going to Senate.
So pagkakain, ininterbyu na ako ni Atty. Bautista. Sabi ko: "Pwede na ba akong umuwi?" Sabi nila: "Sir, hindi ka pa pwedeng umuwi sa bahay, baka maraming media doon." Sabi nila: "Sa Rembrandt na lang namin kayo dalhin."
La Salle
Sabi ko: "Pwede bang sa Greenhills na lang?" Kasi ang mga anak ko kumbaga nasa sanctuary na ng La Salle Greenhills. Tinutulungan na ng mga brothers doon. Isa sila sa pasasalamatan ko.
Buti na lang iyong anak ni Col. Mascariñas ay gumradweyt sa La Salle at scholar pa ng La Salle brothers.
So I struck a sympathetic cord with him. "Ah ganoon ba? Sige, doon kita dalhin."
You can just imagine kung gaanong dasal at pasasalamat ang inabot ko.
So iyon po. Iyon nandoon na din iyong asawa ko nakita na at iyong mga kapatid ko. After a while nang nalaman nang nandoon ako, takbuhan makita lang na buhay ako pero iyong mga bantay ko nandoon pa din.
So kinabukasan po kinuha ulit ako. Dinala ako sa office ni Atty. Bautista where he has already prepared an affidavit for me and I have to fill in certain blanks there -- address ng opisina namin, anong klaseng engineer ba ako -- tinaype nila.
After that, pinakain ako ni Atty. Bautista and his wife..After noon, sabi pirmahan ko na yung affidavit ko.
Sabi ko kay Atty. Bautista: "I have some reservation sa affidavit." Sabi niya: "OK lang yon. Just sign it. Para sa comfort ng Malacañang din iyan."
So I signed it then they brought me back sa La Salle Greenhills para makapagpahinga na ako to prepare for the Senate hearing supposed to be yesterday.
At noong gabi na iyon ay bumalik si Col. Mascariñas with typewritten letter na at kailangan ko ding pirmahan. So iyon po sulat na naka-address sa PNP that I was requesting for security, for protection.
So lahat ng isubo nila sa akin I have to sign kasi siguro naiintindihan niyo naman nandoon sila sa akin. So I have to sign it.
Tapos noong pinirmahan ko iyon hindi pa yata nagtahi-tahi iyong istorya nila sa media so he came back to me again noong gabi. Sabi niya noong gabi: "Papirmahan mo ito sa kapatid mo."
Ayaw ng ate ko. Sabi ng ate ko: "Hindi ako umabot ng 70 anyos para ngayon ko pa sirain ang pangalan ko."
Sabi ko sa ate ko: "Pirmahan mo na para makaalis na sila." So umalis na sila after my sister signed.
Press conference
Noong gabing iyon binisita din ako ni (former DENR secretary Michael) Mike Defensor. Magkaibigan kami ni Mike.
Binisita ako ni Mike at mayroon yata akong nakalimutan, noong nandoon po si Col. Mascariñas tinawagan niya ako. Gusto akong makausap ni [PNP chief] Gen. [Avelino] Razon. Nakikita ko na hirap na hirap si Gen. Razon. Sabi ko: "General, pasensiya na kayo, pati kayo nadadamay sa akin."
Kasi nakikita ko na nag-aano siya sa media. He was forced to tell a lie. I know he is a good man. Napipilitan pa siyang magsinungaling.
Noong pumunta si Mike noong gabi na iyon, sabi sa akin ni Mike: "Pare, this thing has grown way out of proportion na ito." Sabi ko hirap na ako dito. Sinabi ko naman sa inyo mula't sapul pa na ayaw kong ma-involve diyan.
Sabi niya: "Di bale, pare. Gagawan natin ng paraan yan." Sabi niya: "Pwede ka bang tumawag ka na ngayon ng media, either si Mike Enriquez at isang babaeng broadcaster na hindi ko na matandaan. Tumawag ka na. Just make a statement na hindi ka kinidnap at wala ka naman talagang alam dito."
Sabi ko: "Mike, ayaw ko ng gumawa ng...dadagdag pa ako sa gulo. Pwede bang hindi na ako magsasalita?"
And he was so gracious. Sabi nga ni Mike: "O ito panggastos-gastos."
So kaibigan ko po yon si Mike tapos sabi niya: "Pwede ba bukas mag-press conference ka na?" Iyong press conference na iyon ay idea po ni Mike iyon.
Sabi ko nga kay Mike: "Lahat naman ng inuutos niyo sa akin sinusunod ko kaya lang sabog ng sabog. Sabi niyo umalis ako pumunta ng Hong Kong dahil tapos na ito closure report na hindi pinaaresto ako kesa maayos lalong lumala pinaaresto ako. Sabi ni Secretary Atienza umuwi ako sinunod ko nagkagulo pa din. Wala kayong timon 'ka ko."
Sabi niya: Sabihin mo na hindi ka kinidnap. So pagpasok OK, sabi ko: "Mike, ang hirap na nito."
So pagbalik ko sa kuwarto ko, kinuwento ko sa asawa ko yung ano.
Tumawag pa nga si Secretary Neri: Sabi niya: "Jun?" Sabi ko: "Rom, hirap na hirap na ako sa kalagayan ko. Marami na akong problema sa labas. On the domestic front nagkaka-problema na ako kasi ang asawa ko is a wreck already kung wala ako. Natatakot na kasi. Di alam kung saan ako dadalhin."
Sa domestic front 'ka ko mas mahirap because I'm the only one who has to work on her. Sa external front, marami tayo.
Well, noong gabing iyon pagbalik ko kinuwento ko sa asawa ko na magpi-press conference ako. Sabi ko kay Mike, kayo na ang mag-ayos ng statement.
Sabi ng aking wife, tawagan na natin si Sister. Tinawagan namin si Sister, yung mga kaibigan kong madre. Sinabi ng asawa ko yung predicament namin, kinuwento ko din sa mga brothers at kay bishop yung kinalalagyan namin at tuloy-tuloy na ito and if i do it tuloy-tuloy na. Kasali na ako dito.
Sabi ng mga madre na kausap namin at mga pari: "Jun, wala nang katapusan yan." And after the prayer mag-desisyon ka kung sasama ka na diyan. Irerespeto natin 'yan o you will stick to the light. Medyo tumagos sa puso ko ang sinabi ng pari. We prayed over it. Mga alas dose na po iyon.
Nagdesisyon po ako which really made my wife... I will just go to the Senate na lang. I will submit myself to the Senate. Hindi na ako makikisali sa mga pinapipirmahan sa akin.
So noong gabing iyon after the prayer natatakot na po ang asawa ko kung ano ang mangyayari. Nagdesisyon na po yung mga madre at mga pari para sa ikabubuti ng proteksyon ng buhay mo mag-press conference na tayo.
Sabi namin, "Susmaryosep, 12:30 na po yata 'yon o ala una. May tao bang pupunta sa atin?" Sabi niya: "Hayaan mo na. Basta on record lang na sinabi mo na ang gusto mo kasi baka doon sa baba 'yong mga pulis nandoon pa."
So 'yon po, kaya ako nag-press conference kahapon na na-desisyon na I will just stick to the truth and submit myself to the Senate kaya ako nandito.
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Lozada’s testimony (A commentary):
For me alone, I would admit, in due respect, that I will not side either one of them. Remember that neither of these two factions, fighting each other do not guarantee one and negate the other. That is, neither one of them became good nor bad in their squabble.
Although it is true that Lozada is a credible witness and I believe that he is telling the truth. Some of the news article says that he is planning everything in order to make him appear as a convincing liar. Who is that editor? The one who believes more with the truly corrupt officials than him?
Lozada before confessed that he loses his right to testify against those officials when he is before involved in the alleged bribery scandal. We couldn’t prove if he receives some, because he is before a consultant in the ZTE contract. Moreover, he says that he is a President (now resigned) in the Philippine Forest Corporation when he answered the question interposed by Sen. Defensor-Santiago during the Senate-Hearing.
I say that “when he loses such right” means he will be in pari delicto (equal guilt). He cannot accuse someone if he has committed the same.
Yes, it is true that the public at large believes in his credible testimony, and so am I. Even though his testimony is credible enough when he discloses this in the Senate, it is preposterous enough that even some of the Senators in both opposition and administration (but not all), are like rotten apples. My apology is that, they cannot even prove themselves that they are good enough and a trustworthy official as far as the culture of corruption is concerned. They also receive kickbacks as well. Imagine who is the honest Senator receiving only P 204, 000 a year? Some of them receives more than what is enough from whatever proceeds from illegal (or might a legal) sources.
That’s a balancing force of good and bad. It offsets each other. Then, his testimony as if, nothing happen.
ZTE Contract is nevertheless valid for some reason. The President may enter any contract/s in accordance to the constitutional mandate. But I would admit that in this kind of contract, in my opinion, it is not applicable with respect to notification to Congress. It is true in some contract that needs notification (Art 13, 1987 Constitution on National Economy and Patrimony). The former might not because the purpose of ZTE contract is the installation of Government telecommunication facilities that only the authorized government officials can utilize the same. That kind of communication is highly sensitive and confidential in nature with respect to such kind of purpose.
However, the contract has to be aborted. It is true that President Arroyo rescinded the contract because of such kind of alleged bribery scandal. The public gravely calumniates her that she is involved in such scandal. But the public shall be bound to know the truth behind, despite travesty of justice that needs to be painstakingly unveil.
Whether or not when President rescinded the contract, did she receive, in whole or in part, before, during or after the rescission of the contract, such kind of bribes and kickback?
It is nothing bad for the public to initiate a rally and a noise barrage to protest against those corrupt officials. It is clearly expressed in Section 4 that No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances. This is the true spirit of democracy in a Republican type of government that people shall be supreme at all times and government authority emanates from them. It is better to show their grievances than to keep ourselves silent allowing us to be oppressed by their misdemeanors.
But the truth behind shall first be settled by filing the petitions before the Supreme Court, because the one who can pierce the truth from the lies is a judicial prerogative. That is the apothegm of Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Before they show their whims, let Supreme Court decide on that matter. The magistrates will render the decision for us and they will base their reason on such verdict, both with their own concurring and dissenting opinion.
With President Arroyo, perhaps she can do anything good in improving our foreign relations with a country. If someone vituperates, foreign relations are still our indispensable for their future assistance for us with respect to paramount consideration of national economic and social progress, even from a piecemeal aid. We don’t expect anything about it. They only voluntarily provide the aid for us.
She also initiates until completion of LRT 2 project and stability of Philippine Peso as against US Dollar Exchange Rate w/out affecting overseas remittance as mechanism for increased international reserve (to use as payment for import).
She also invites prospective investors to the country, and therefore, we can still trusts her even they contend that she is a lesser evil among future presidential candidates that we are uncertain to give future for us.
I know she is involved in Hello Garci Scandal. I favor in opening the case against her; however, what if, even a violation of special laws, do you agree that it is a sacrifice, because we are not sure about the other presidential candidates? We have no future for them. That is our quandary in the future. We are being tormenting too much.
Now the pestiferous EO 464 issued by the President. It is true that EO 464 observes the doctrine of separation of powers. Each of the three branches of Government (Legislative, Executive and Judicial Dept) had their own domain of power given by the Constitution. Moreover, each of these had a privilege to exercise this power and kept some secret to prevent other branches to encroach with this power. But the secrecy and the furtive matters in their course of exercising this power have a limitation.
Even there is a doctrine of separation of powers; nevertheless there is a system of corollary checks and balances.
The Supreme Court held that provisions of EO 464 are partly valid and void in nature. Meetings of the President among its Cabinet members, and communication between President to its head in an agency under the Office of the President (NEDA, CHED, MMDA, NAC, etc…) are secret. But in case of compulsory appearance of executive officials before the Senate however, that Romulo Neri failed to prove that his appearance will affect national security, is nevertheless in his contention not to appear is a void executive privilege under EO 464. He cannot invoke that privilege of not to appear in Senate for to answer the question about the alleged scandal.
Remember that Associate Justice Ynares-Santiago in her dissenting opinion that, EO 464 cannot be invoke to cover criminal conspiracies in the seat of the government. Bribery is a high crime. It violates RA 3019 and Revised Penal Code Book 2 on provisions known as Crimes Committed by Public Officials.
How ZTE Contract scandal operates? They overprice the bidding and part of the amount will serve as their commission. This will be the share of the corrupt executive officials to the detriment of the general public. The question is where will our taxes go? Then, the contract will not yield the result because they said the money was meager enough. Huh, I’m so perplex. The money was scanty and insufficient to pay the contract?
Executive Officials said in “Harapan” (ABS-CBN 2 show), when the contract was signed for approval, the amount increased to $329 M. In the newspaper article, this added amount was served to increase financing for construction of additional transmitter to facilitate nexus or flow of telecommunication networks. Okay, but as to manner of financing, why the contract was converted to Loan Package than “Build-Operate-Transfer Scheme”? Under BOT, the construction, maintenance and operation of ZTE will undertake by the Chinese company and after receiving the reasonable rate of return or payback, they will give this to the Philippine Government. It puts me to a quandary.
Loan Package, meaning to say, the payment will come from National Treasury, out of collection from us, being a taxpayers?
The evidence shall not only from credible witnesses. The Senate (spearheaded by Blue Ribbon Committee), shall be authorized to asks for a documentary evidence, specifically NBN Papers evidencing such transaction. But EO 464 shall be resolved first; otherwise our difficulty to find the truth still prevails for a longer period of time.
With regard to arrests of officials, it is dubitable for Ex-COMELEC Chairman Abalos, Joey de Venecia, Romulo Neri, FG Arroyo and several John Does, Mark, Does, Richard Does and some Jane Does. Because the ff:
1. They are clothed with power as officials and they have immunity, although FG Arroyo is an ordinary citizen, a husband of the President. Romulo Neri is still incumbent (NEDA now CHED Commissioner. What is he doing as Commissioner of CHED?)
2. Ombudsman alone is painstakingly looking for opportunities while in the course of preliminary investigation and examination of said officials. Subpoena alone might be insufficient. Sandiganbayan is cognizable on OMB’s case preparation as a prosecutor, but the Anti-Graft court is waiting for that case set for hearing.
3. Assuming that said corrupt officials had their own counsel (or acting in behalf), they are fond of telling lies, fabricating a version of their defense as a mere mode of technicalities than a merits on a case. With these, they have possibility of winning a trial, like we are letting a criminal escaped from apprehension. They take advantage in every turn of weaknesses of credible witness’ insufficient knowledge (or a mere hearsay) and information alleged by the prosecutor OMB.
Remember that NAIA Terminal 3 Project was left still in progress, no completion. The Northrail and Southrail Project. Including the Mega-Pacific computerized election which it was discontinued because Ex-COMELEC Chairman Abalos was too greedy enough to pilfer the money to be financed from said project, and now he is going to ZTE.
Then, those corrupt executive officials are getting exasperated because they were being accused, and file criminal cases for libel. Who are the criminals anyway, the one accusing them for misdemeanor, or the one tried to relieve themselves to the Court even they are in dirty hands?
The Court only receives the case, and probably acquitted them, because it has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Then, they are still in large. Now this is the time of our tribulation, while the opponent savors themselves in nefarious ways. Never will our country be prospering again. The only thing we can do is begin our renewal, and remain in faith with our Lord, while we continue our struggle.
We have laws, but it remained futile because we cannot do anything, even their gravest transgression of the laws. We pray to obtain evidence from NBN Papers and the arrests of officials. That is all what we need. Hope that even the Court of Last Resort (Supreme Court) will not acquit the criminal unlike in People vs. Lucio Tan, et al. He was acquitted because lack of sufficient evidence to prove that he is a tax evader and creating illegal dummy corporations inside the allied bank and the questionable government properties acquired by Tan, whether or not he receives it as a gift or other consideration.
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