Gonzalez: Impeachment complaint wrong on NBN-ZTE
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/13/2008 7:31 PM
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Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Monday belied the accusation of "overpricing" in the National Broadband Network (NBN) telecommunications project with China's ZTE Corp. as alleged in a new impeachment complaint filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Based on a Department of Justice fact-finding panel's work, Gonzalez said there was no "overpricing" by US$130 million in the botched deal.
In fact, Gonzalez said the panel had said that it is former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, not Palace officials, who may be liable for "conflict of interest" in the project.
De Venecia's son, Joey, was a failed bidder in the NBN-ZTE deal.
The panel's findings will be referred to the Ombudsman.
According to Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, he has received comments from some businessmen who feel that the national focus should be on the global financial meltdown, not on politicking.
"I received some calls saying, bakit ganito tayo, malaki hinaharap ng mundo and yet, sa bayan natin, me panahon pa tayo makipagkuwan sa pultika," Favila said.
"I've been saying long before, if we lessen politics even by 30%, we can do much more and even better than ASEAN neighbors."
Deputy Palace Spokesman Anthony Golez declined to comment on the substance of the impeachment complaint that was filed by opposition leaders such as NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jose 'Joey' de Venecia III and endorsed by militant party-list representatives in the House of Representatives.
"No new statement on rehashed issues," Golez said in a text message.
Meanwhile, around 100 members of the Coalition Against Destabilization staged a picket in front of Congress to express their opposition to the new impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
RJ villena, spokesman of the coalition, said the real motive behind the new impeachment complaint filed Monday morning is to promote the political agenda of those behind the new raps.
"Gusto lang magpapansin ng opposition dahil sa nalalapit na 2010 elections," he said. -- report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
