PGMA and FG: Not Guilty in ZTE Deal
Together with complaints against the officials of ZTE namely Lorenzo Formoso, Elmer Soneja, Yu Yong, George Zhuying, Fan Yan, and Hou Wei, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo were dismissed yesterday. Also cleared in the case were Jose "Joey" de Venecia and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.
But the Office of the Ombudsman charged former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and Social Security System president Romulo Neri guilty.Cases of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act will be filed against Abalos and Neri before the Sandiganbayan. Where also a separate case for “corruption of public officials,” or a violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code, was likewise recommended against Abalos, which will be lodged before the Metropolitan Trial Court of Mandaluyong City.
A 144-page joint resolution was dated April 21, 2009 but was approved only on Aug. 27 by overall deputy ombudsman Orlando Casimiro. was signed by Emilio Gonzales III, deputy ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices; Robert Kallos, deputy special prosecutor; Rodolfo Elman, assistant ombudsman; Cesar Asuncion, director; and Jesus Micael, special prosecutor. where ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, a law school classmate of Mr. Arroyo, inhibited from the case. It is maybe because she is facing impeachment raps for allegedly dragging her feet on the case and on other high-level corruption cases involving ranking administration officials that is why it's better for her not to join this one for us not to think that the ombudsman is influenced or biased by on their decision.
The ruling came two years after businessman Jose de Venecia III, son and namesake of the former House speaker, exposed the alleged anomalies in the deal and implicated the First Gentleman and Abalos.
Why is Mr. Arroyo, De Venecia and Mendoza were cleared? It is because “due to lack of probable cause.” While President Arroyo was not indicted because she is immune from suits as incumbent president.
The Akbayan party list (which file the case) member Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said that with the ruling, they are now urging Abalos and Neri to “speak up” and reveal everything they know about the NBN-ZTE deal.
Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the Ombudsman ruling. “We’ve always been confident. They failed to show any evidence or proof (of Mr. Arroyo’s involvement) and we’ve properly presented our factual and legal defense,” Ruy Rondain told The STAR over the phone.
“I maintain my innocence. I have nothing to do with the pricing (of ZTE project),” Abalos said. Where he resigned from the Comelec on Oct. 1, 2007 amid accusations by the younger De Venecia that he had tried to broker the $329-million NBN project. That is, according to Abalos the accusations of De Venecia were baseless and should not be given any weight. “He was claiming that I was brokering for the project. But he was the one who kept on coming to Wack Wack (golf club). Kung ako may kailangan sa kanya, bakit sya ang punta ng punta sa akin (If I’m the one who needed something from him, then why is it that it was he who kept on coming to me)?” he asked.
Neri had testified before the Senate about an apparent attempt by Abalos to bribe him to convince him to endorse the project. Neri was then socioeconomic secretary when Abalos made the alleged bribe offer. "The Ombudsman filed criminal charges against me?” Neri asked, almost incredulously.
Well, for my political opinions, why are they surprise (Mr. Arroyo's camp) when they confident of the result? and why are they confident of the result?
Even if ombudsman Gutierrez did not join in. She can still influence and speak to her fellow ombudsmans for the ruling.
The one that is not clear for me, why is Neri charged when he was the witness? Is telling the truth now makes one liable of complaints and charges?
What if Mrs. Arroyo will not be the president anymore? I hope not the charges when piled up would not be taller than her...
But the Office of the Ombudsman charged former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and Social Security System president Romulo Neri guilty.Cases of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act will be filed against Abalos and Neri before the Sandiganbayan. Where also a separate case for “corruption of public officials,” or a violation of Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code, was likewise recommended against Abalos, which will be lodged before the Metropolitan Trial Court of Mandaluyong City.
A 144-page joint resolution was dated April 21, 2009 but was approved only on Aug. 27 by overall deputy ombudsman Orlando Casimiro. was signed by Emilio Gonzales III, deputy ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices; Robert Kallos, deputy special prosecutor; Rodolfo Elman, assistant ombudsman; Cesar Asuncion, director; and Jesus Micael, special prosecutor. where ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, a law school classmate of Mr. Arroyo, inhibited from the case. It is maybe because she is facing impeachment raps for allegedly dragging her feet on the case and on other high-level corruption cases involving ranking administration officials that is why it's better for her not to join this one for us not to think that the ombudsman is influenced or biased by on their decision.
The ruling came two years after businessman Jose de Venecia III, son and namesake of the former House speaker, exposed the alleged anomalies in the deal and implicated the First Gentleman and Abalos.
Why is Mr. Arroyo, De Venecia and Mendoza were cleared? It is because “due to lack of probable cause.” While President Arroyo was not indicted because she is immune from suits as incumbent president.
The Akbayan party list (which file the case) member Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said that with the ruling, they are now urging Abalos and Neri to “speak up” and reveal everything they know about the NBN-ZTE deal.
Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the Ombudsman ruling. “We’ve always been confident. They failed to show any evidence or proof (of Mr. Arroyo’s involvement) and we’ve properly presented our factual and legal defense,” Ruy Rondain told The STAR over the phone.
“I maintain my innocence. I have nothing to do with the pricing (of ZTE project),” Abalos said. Where he resigned from the Comelec on Oct. 1, 2007 amid accusations by the younger De Venecia that he had tried to broker the $329-million NBN project. That is, according to Abalos the accusations of De Venecia were baseless and should not be given any weight. “He was claiming that I was brokering for the project. But he was the one who kept on coming to Wack Wack (golf club). Kung ako may kailangan sa kanya, bakit sya ang punta ng punta sa akin (If I’m the one who needed something from him, then why is it that it was he who kept on coming to me)?” he asked.
Neri had testified before the Senate about an apparent attempt by Abalos to bribe him to convince him to endorse the project. Neri was then socioeconomic secretary when Abalos made the alleged bribe offer. "The Ombudsman filed criminal charges against me?” Neri asked, almost incredulously.
Well, for my political opinions, why are they surprise (Mr. Arroyo's camp) when they confident of the result? and why are they confident of the result?
Even if ombudsman Gutierrez did not join in. She can still influence and speak to her fellow ombudsmans for the ruling.
The one that is not clear for me, why is Neri charged when he was the witness? Is telling the truth now makes one liable of complaints and charges?
What if Mrs. Arroyo will not be the president anymore? I hope not the charges when piled up would not be taller than her...
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