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Monday, February 18, 2008
Lozada: Neri said Arroyo is 'evil' (4:10 p.m.)
MANILA (Updated)-- Senate star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. revealed that former socioeconomic secretary Romulo Neri described President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as an "evil" person.
On the resumption of the Senate investigation on the botched NBN-ZTE deal on Monday, Lozada said 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 Malacanang 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 Malacaņang 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.
Lozada said in his struggle to stick to the light he put his friend's (Neri) life in danger. He appealed to the Senate that Neri's life to be protected and never be put in danger.
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 discussed by Neri invoking executive privilege.
Lozada was asked by Senator Kiko 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) |
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