MANILA - Sen. Richard Gordon was allegedly trying to play it safe and helping his re-election bid when he recommended the indictment of nearly all the players in the anomalous US$329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE Corp., including the first couple and the whistleblowers.

"Senator Gordon is running for an elective position. If he gave more weight on my version, Malacañang will get angry at him. If he took the version of Mike Arroyo, he would earn the ire of the public. He is actually caught in the middle. He is washing his hands. He is already gearing up for the elections," NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jose "Joey" de Venecia III told radio dzMM.

Gordon is expected to seek another six-year term in May 2010, although he is also considering running for president.

De Venecia added: "This is his first release for re-election. He said he wants to be a president. This is really the best thing for him as a politician."

The Senate Blue-Ribbon Committee headed by Gordon did not recommend the filing of any case against Mrs. Arroyo for her supposed involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal, but castigated the Office of the Ombudsman for dismissing the case filed against her based "on the mere pretext of presidential immunity."

Gordon said Mrs. Arroyo "has lots to answer for" because she failed to "crack the whip on her people." He said President Arroyo should be probed for her failure to act on the allegations of corruption and bribery in connection with the NBN-ZTE deal.

The committee also urged the Ombudsman to file charges against 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.

When former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Romulo Neri told Arroyo in 2007 that he was offered a bribe to approve the project, Gordon said the President should have intervened and called for an investigation.

Neri testified that then Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos offered a P200-million bribe to help facilitate the project. Abalos allegedly helped broker the NBN project with Chinese firm ZTE Corp..

Aside from the First Couple, the committee also recommended the filing of charges against the younger De Venecia and another whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. for allegedly violating provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The same charges were recommended by the committee against Neri, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, DOTC Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja and DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso.

No legal effect

Ruy Rondain, lawyer of Mr. Arroyo, said he was not surprised with the Senate committee's recommendations against the First Gentleman.

"That case has been decided by the Ombudsman. There is nothing surprising [with the committee report]," Rondain said.

He said the recommendations are already worthless because the Ombudsman has already absolved Mr. Arroyo.

"Wala namang masyadong legal effect ang report dahil may decision na ang Ombudsman sa mga kaso. Wala namang kasong required, recommendatory lang naman ang inilabas ng Blue Ribbon eh," the lawyer said.

Lozada, meanwhile, likened the committee report to the impeachment complaints filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano against the President.

"Kapag nabasa mo ang report, parang ang tapang ni Gordon na ituro ang Ombudsman na may kasalanan. Wala naman siyang ibinigay na tanong," the whistleblower said.

He said he is not surprised the camp of the Arroyos is taking the Blue Ribbon committee's recommendation very lightly.