Arroyo challenged to appear before Sandiganbayan
MANILA, Philippines - The son of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. on Thursday challenged former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to testify before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the botched national broadband network deal with China-owned ZTE Corp.
In an interview with Umagang Kay Ganda’s Punto Por Punto, the former lawmaker’s namesake said Arroyo may really be “hiding something” if she does not entertain the subpoena issued by the Sandiganbayan.
“This will be a good opportunity for her to tell her side of the story…[If she refuses to appear] then why? She must have a good reason," the younger de Venecia said.
In a subpoena issued by lawyer Ma. Teresa Pabulayan the other day, Arroyo was “commanded to appear” on October 13 and 28 and November 11 at 8:30 a.m. to clarify the authority of former Social Security Systems chairman Romulo Neri in approving the deal.
He was then director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, which grants approvals to government projects.
Neri had been slapped with graft charges.
The younger de Venecia, who has a stake in the project, alleged the Arroyos intervened to have the ZTE plan approved. He claimed his own proposal was bypassed.
Self-incrimination
Arroyo, who has been stripped of her immunity from suits since she stepped down as president, has not revealed her plans whether to appear or not.
This early however, her allies in the House of Representatives said the subpoena can still be quashed.
Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said she can exercise her constitutional right of immunity on the ground of self-incrimination.
“Nonetheless, why insist on this case? This has already been canceled. So what’s the crime now? Perhaps, morally, yes. Legally however, there is nothing to discuss,” he said.
The younger de Venecia however said “there was an attempt to commit a crime. That’s the basis of this case, to hold people accountable.”
He foresees that if Arroyo does appear in court, she would merely pass the blame on to Neri.
Equally guilty
“It’s difficult if you have a case there. If you’re found guilty, you’ll get prison time,” he said.
He claimed Arroyo has been very much involved in the deal. “She has a potentially equivalent crime,” he said.
If this will be the case, he said Neri and Abalos should now reveal the truth.
This is because “finally, they’re freed from their boss,” he stressed.
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GAWIN NATING MAGANDANG HALIMBAWA ANG SARILI NATIN
hindi ba tungkulin ng isang halal ng bayan na tumulong para sa ikakalinaw ng isang kaso.
bakit umiiwas si gloria meron ba syang tinatagong sekreto na hindi dapat malaman?? meron nga siguro...O BAYAD O UTANG NA LOOB.
tama lang na may karapatan si gloria na manahimik pero bilang halal ng bayan meron syang OBLIGASYON TAONG BAYAN NA tumulong para sa ikalilinaw ng isang kaso...tama po ba Atty. Estelito Mendoza??
SANA LANG BILANG ISANG ABOGADO WAG NATING ITAGO ANG KATOTOHANAN AT ITURO NATIN SA KANILA ANG TAMANG LANDAS
kung lahat ng HALAL O OPISYALES NG GOBYERNO E TULAD KAY GMA NA LAGING MAGTATAGO NG KATOTOHANAN E SIGURO WALANG SAYSAY NA MANATILI KAYO SA POSISYON NYO DAHIL PAANO NYO ITUTUWID AT PAIRALIN ANG BATAS NG TAMA AT MAAYOS?
PAANO NYO MAITUTUWID ANG MGA TAONG GUMAGAWA NG MALI KUNG KAYO MISMO AY NASA MALING LANDAS!!
SELF INCRIMINATING VIEWS
People of the Philippines just wonder how the HONORABLE Representative from Camiguin got the nerve to quote that “Nonetheless, why insists on this case? This has already been canceled. So what’s the crime now? Perhaps, morally, yes. Legally however, there is nothing to discuss,”
For your pleasure your HONOR here’s some points for you to ponder. Since you are struggling for answers.
1. Nonetheless, why insist on this case?
Ans. BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HUNGERS FOR JUSTICE FROM THE SUFFERINGS THEY HAD GONE THROUGH FROM LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY WHO HAD ABUSED THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY FOR THEIR OWN PERSONNAL VESTED INTERESTS AND GREED. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT PEOPLE HAD HAD ENOUGH OF PAINS AND WANT TO STOP THIS KIND OF BLEEDING IN THE FUTURE.
2. This has already been cancelled. So what’s the crime now?
Ans. YES CANCELLED BECAUSE THE DEAL BURST AND FOR SURE IT WAS NOT A FAIR SHARED DEAL THAT BLEW IT ALL. AND EVERYBODY’S NOT HAPPY. BUT WHAT IF THE DEAL WAS CLOSED AND BANK ACCOUNTS AND FAT TUMMIES GOT FILLED IN, SO EVERYBODY’S HAPPY? THE CRIME? ATTEMPTED LARGE SCALE GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. ( Simply said : Should the ZTE-Corp. Project had been done in good faith it could have been an opportunity to generate money for the Government and because of the scandalous deals that opportunity was lost and that was tantamount to Pocketing Peoples money intended to feed hungry poor people , money intended for building hospitals and medicines to lessen sufferings of the sick in over crowded public hospitals, money intended for additional school rooms and chairs for the needy public schools . etc. ( THIS MIGHT HAVE BENEFITTED PEOPLE OF CAMIGUIN ISLAND TOO AND WILL LOVE YOU MORE YOUR HONOR.)
3. Perhaps, morally, yes.
Ans. OMIT PERHAPS, IT IS SURELY IMMORAL AND YET NOBODY GETS EASILY JAILED IN JUST SPITTING OUT A FOUR LETTR WORD AND YES THAT’S IMMORAL.
4. Legally, however there is nothing to discuss.
Ans. SANDIGANBAYAN WILL NOT ISSUE A SUBPHOENA FOR GMA WITHOUT ANY LEGAL BASIS.
Excerpt from the article regarding GMA:
Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said she can exercise her constitutional right of immunity on the ground of self-incrimination.
PERHAPS, THE BOTTOMLINE WHY GMA BECAME THE ONLY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO SEEK A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AFTER HER TERM.
JUST WAIT TILL THE TWO GRILLED AND ROASTED BOYS SAY “WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER GUYS!” LET’S ALL START PAYING…