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Monday, February 18, 2008
Ermita: Cabinet 'solidly' behind Arroyo
MANILA (Updated 4:30 p.m.) -- Cabinet members signed a document Monday manifesting their support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid calls from former government officials for them to resign.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in a press conference in Malacañang read the joint statement by all the Cabinet members stating their support for Arroyo amid corruption allegations that have battered her presidency.
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"Amid calls for us to resign, all members of the Cabinet are solidly behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Ermita said. "The Cabinet firmly believes that the President is doing much for the country, especially for the economy and she deserves to finish her mandated term until 2010."
The Cabinet members believe that all the allegations made by Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. should be discussed in court, which is the proper venue in accordance with the due process of law.
While the country's problems are deeply rooted we firmly believe that political, social, and economic reforms are achievable under the leadership of President Gloria Macapala-Arroyo with the support and cooperation of political and social leaders, the Cabinet members said.
"We in the Cabinet will stay with her and continue to focus on our work. We will not allow ourselves to be distracted by political noises. The Cabinet members take pride in working with the president in uplifting the lives of our people," the joint statement read.
The call for Cabinet members to resign was made after attending a mass led by Roman Catholic groups and former President Corazon Aquino on Sunday to show support for Lozada, a star witness, in a new corruption scandal.
The former officials said they were alarmed by the alleged abuse of presidential powers, including the purported use of security forces "to strangle the truth."
"We call on all government officials - Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, heads of agencies - who know about these anomalous transactions to join the heroic stand of Jun Lozada to come forward and speak out," they added.
Lozada, an Information Technology (IT) expert, publicly exposed alleged large-scale bribery in a US$330 million government broadband contract being investigated by the opposition-dominated Senate.
Evil
Meanwhile, Lozada in the resumption of the Senate hearing on the botched NBN-ZTE deal Monday revealed that former socioeconomic secretary Romulo Neri described President Arroyo as an "evil" person.
According to Lozada, Neri made this statement during the meeting held on December 7, 2007 at Asian Institute of Management.
In the said meeting, Neri presented an outline of how deep the country's corruption problem was.
On the other hand, Neri in a press conference in Malacañang Monday said he cannot recall describing the President as "evil" in the said meeting.
"I know Jun is very sincere with me and cares for me but I really cannot recall that statement. I don't remember. I cannot up to now," Neri told Malacañang reporters.
He however, confirmed meeting with Lozada and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal last year. He said the meeting was never about the NBN-ZTE deal but about the country's political economy.
As a close friend of Neri, Lozada was quite hesitant to divulge the statement of Neri but after asking for forgiveness to his friend, he testified that the former socioeconomic secretary called Arroyo an "evil" person in connection with web of corruption in government.
According to Lozada, Neri wanted to testify before the Senate but he was afraid to end up begging for alms if he decides to oppose the government. He added that they are thinking of generating patriotic money for Neri if he leaves his post in the government and tell what he knows about the present administration.
When Neri appeared before the Senate in October he divulge a P200-million offer made by former poll chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. regarding the NBN-ZTE deal.
The Abalos offer was reported to the President. Neri told the senators that the President told him not to accept it.
Further discussions regarding the ZTE-NBN deal with the President was no longer revealed by Neri invoking on executive privilege.
Lozada was asked by Senator Francis Pangilinan if he was aware of what the President told Neri regarding the ZTE deal.
Pangilinan said when Neri decides to appear in the hearing, he will be asked to confirm or deny Lozada's testimony.
According to Lozada when Neri told the President about the P200-million commission offered by Abalos, he was told not to accept it and to ignore Abalos but approve the NBN-ZTE project.
Lozada said based on what Neri told him, the President ordered the former socioeconomic secretary to ensure that the NBN project will be included in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) package with China.
He said Neri cautioned the President about the project since it is already getting controversial in media.
But the President told Neri that the controversy is just the work of Joey (Jose "Joey" de Venecia III) and his father (former House Speaker Jose de Venecia). (Sunnex)
Related stories:
Senator asks committee to subpoena ZTE officials (4:12 p.m.)
Police, airport officials no show at Senate probe (12:20 p.m.)
Lozada turns over P500,000 Palace money to Senate (11:53 a.m.)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (February 18, 2008 issue)
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