Monday, February 18, 2008
Arroyo wants key project approved despite bribery allegations: witness (7:15 p.m.)
MANILA -- A witness told a Senate inquiry Monday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ignored an economic adviser's report that he had been offered a large bribe in a telecommunications deal and ordered him to get the project approved anyway.
Former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri was so upset with Arroyo's decision that he considered resigning after being ordered to seek approval of the US$330 million (euro225 million) government broadband contract, a former consultant for the project, Rodolfo Lozada Jr., testified.
Disappointed with corruption scandals hounding Arroyo's government, Neri also called the president "evil" during a lecture on the economy to opposition politicians in December, Lozada said.
Neri, who now heads the government's commission on higher education, denied in a news conference that Arroyo ordered him to have the deal approved. He also told The Associated Press in an interview that he could not remember calling Arroyo "evil."
Neri told Arroyo he declined a 200 million-peso (US$5 million; euro3.4 million) bribe last year from then-Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, who was pushing for the deal to be approved, Lozada said. (AP) |
