MANILA - First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on Wednesday downplayed a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report recommending charges against him and President Arroyo for possible violation of the Constitution in connection with the anomalous US$329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE Corp.

Arroyo's lawyer Ruy Alberto Rondain said he and his client agreed that the committee report was not worrisome since the Ombudsman had already absolved the First Couple of possible involvement in the NBN deal.

Rondain said they have no further legal moves, noting that Blue Ribbon chair Richard Gordon himself noted the report was merely recommendatory. He also noted that that the Ombudsman based her decision on the Senate transcripts on the NBN-ZTE scandal hearing, which meant that any new case filed against the First Couple would have to be based on new evidence.

The lawyer denied that the release of the report was politically motivated, saying Gordon was merely doing his job as committee chairman. He added that he did not agree with the Ombudsman's dismissal of the complaint against businessman Joey de Venecia III and former government official Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada who blew the whistle on the alleged anomaly. He said de Venecia had no business bidding for the NBN contract since his father was Speaker of the House.

The Blue Ribbon report urged the Ombudsman to file charges against President Arroyo, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, former Commission on Elections chief Benjamin Abalos, and former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for their involvement in the deal. 

Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said the First Gentleman should be probed for violating Sections 4 (a) and 5 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibit private individuals from using their relationship with people in power to gain from business transactions.

The First Gentleman allegedly told Jose ‘Joey’ de Venecia III, head of Amsterdam Holdings Inc., (AHI) to "back off" from the NBN project. AHI also tried to bag the NBN deal.

More than this, Gordon said that Mr. Arroyo served as a "watering hole" for the transaction. “He was where people who are participants to the project converged,” the report stressed.    

Aside from the First Couple, the committee also recommended the filing of charges against Abalos, former Speaker de Venecia and his son Joey, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, DOTC Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja, DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso, Neri, and whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. for allegedly violating provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Abalos was also recommended to be charged with violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code or Corruption of Public Officials while the former House Speaker was also recommended to be charged with violation of Section 7 (d) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Blue Ribbon Committee also recommended that Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza be charged for alleged violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code, or disobedience to summons issued by the legislature.

For her part, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo debunked claims that the President was guilty of violating her oath of office by not doing anything about the supposed corruption. Fajardo said the President canceled the deal and even ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to  investigate the matter.

Fajardo also dismissed talks that the report was sufficient ground for impeachment or new cases, citing the lack of evidence and presidential immunity.