Roxas: Search for truth steadily moves forward

Senator Mar Roxas said the search for truth behind the National Broadband Network (NBN) controversy is “steadily moving forward,” with the Supreme Court offering a solution to the gridlock between the legislative and the executive due to former NEDA chair Secretary Romulo Neri’s invocation of executive privilege in Senate hearings.

Roxas, co-chair of the Joint Senate Committees probing the NBN deal, said he believes the high court offered a “reasonable and practical way forward” by offering a compromise: to let the former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Neri appear before the Senate, but the “three questions” where Neri previously raised executive privilege would be “deemed asked.”

“I find this a reasonable, practical way forward. This is an assertion of the Senate’s right to call on resource persons in the conduct of its hearings. It also prescribes a sound process for the Court to look at how the Office of the President uses executive privilege,” Roxas said, adding that this spares everyone the need to keep coming back to the Supreme Court for guidance every time executive privilege is invoked.

“I appreciate the desire of the Supreme Court to prescribe a fair and transparent process in anticipation of further questions that Secretary Neri will likely refuse to answer. Dahil malinaw ang proseso, lalong titibay at lalalim ang resulta ng hearings ng Senado,” he said.

Roxas, Liberal Party President, hopes that this compromise will reveal more facts that have yet to be uncovered due to Secretary Neri’s non-appearance in subsequent hearings. Neri had testified that he discussed with the President the alleged attempt of former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos to bribe him with P200 million to facilitate the NBN project.

“We hope that Secretary Neri will supply more missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle. It is now his turn to show he is worthy of the considerations given to him and not botch this opportunity to come clean,” he said.

“Kataka-taka na kahit ang mismong abogado ni Secretary Neri ay hindi pa nakikita ang kontrata ng ZTE deal at hindi alam ang proseso na pinagdaanan nito,” he said.

He said the Liberal Party, whose members were present in Tuesday’s oral arguments, will continue to be vigilant and will continue to call on the President to “save the Republic” by allowing the truth to come out.

The compromise deal, which was discussed in a closed-door session late Tuesday night among the Supreme Court justices, the senators and their counsels, and the counsels of Neri, will be taken up with all senators today to come up with a common stand.

Neri would also be allowed to once more invoke executive privilege in refusing to ask questions, but the Senate will be free to cite him in contempt. The Senate will also be allowed to contest all of Neri’s other claims of executive privilege, for these to be decided once and for all by the Supreme Court.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | posted in benjamin abalos, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, romulo neri, supreme court, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas calls on AMLC to verify Madriaga testimony

Senator Mar Roxas said the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) should verify alleged fund transfers in relation to the controversial ZTE-National Broadband Network (NBN) project, as per the testimony of Engr. Dante Madriaga, a self-claimed consultant to ZTE Corp.

On Tuesday, Roxas made a motion to the Senate Joint Committee investigating the anomalous NBN project to formally request the AMLC to verify the amounts supposedly moved offshore, the dates of the said transfers and the names involved, as discussed by Madriaga during the hearing.

“Makikita natin kung mayroon ganyang halaga na pumasok dito sa pamamagitan ng AMLC. Proseso ito na itinalaga sa ating batas, para nga itong mga labas-pasok na pera na ito ay ma-monitor lalong-lalo na kung bunga ito ng mga iligal na gawain,” Roxas, co-chair of the Senate’s NBN hearings, said.

“We appreciate the testimony of Engr. Madriaga as to the amount of cash that changed hands as part of the NBN mess. But in order to build a stronger case, we need documentary evidence,” he added.

During the Tuesday hearing, Roxas deferred questioning Madriaga until his claims are placed in a sworn affidavit, with all details clearly threshed out.

“I defer my questioning not because of doubts on Madriaga’s testimony, but because it would provide greater weight to his statements if we base our questions on a sworn affidavit. The more detail, the more we could see the veracity of his statements,” he said.

Madriaga, who said he was a consultant for NBN contractor ZTE from May 2006 to March 2007, had tagged the First Couple, along with businessmen Ruben Reyes and Leo San Miguel, retired policeman Quirino de la Torre and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos, as major players in the anomalous broadband project.

Roxas said, “The intricacies of alleged corruption in this case–yung detalye nitong sinasabing “bukol”—ay unti-unti nang lumalabas. For the Senate to act appropriately on this case, we need the whole story, and we need the full cooperation of the government.”

Thursday, February 28, 2008 | posted in amlc, benjamin abalos, comelec, leo san miguel, mar roxas, mike arroyo, pgma, philippines, president, quirino de la torre, ruben reyes, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Statement of Sen. Mar Roxas on President Arroyo's admission of flawed NBN Deal

“This is the President’s second public ‘mea culpa’ after a major scandal of public interest, which in this instance is the ZTE-NBN deal. In the first instance, the ‘Hello Garci’ wiretapping incident that points to alleged fraud in the 2004 presidential polls, she said, ‘I am sorry’.

“But after saying so, she put out orders that limited freedom of expression and of the press, that compromised and denigrated the independence of Congress, and sent a chilling effect to all.

“Bakit tayo ngayon maniniwala na pagkatapos ng pag-amin ng Pangulo ay magkakaroon ng hustisya? Na hindi na mauulit ang mga ganitong anomalya?

“How can we believe in the sincerity of the President to set things right in the face of E.O. 464, the Lozada abduction and harassment clearly intended to impede truth and justice?

“How can we believe in the sincerity and motives of the President if she is using our diplomatic relations with China as an excuse for not preventing a crime against the Filipino people?

“If the President is indeed sincere in her latest admission of fault, then she should immediately lift E.O. 464; order the NEDA Director-General to submit to the Senate all NEDA-ICC documents in relation to the NBN; and other actions that respect the people’s right to free expression and to information.

“Without these actions, the status quo remains, and the people’s crusade for truth will snowball.”

Sunday, February 24, 2008 | posted in benjamin abalos, comelec, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, rodolfo lozada, romulo neri, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Sen. Roxas' opening statement during the NBN Project Joint Committee Hearing

First of all, to Mr. Lozada: Welcome, we are all glad that you are safe. For many hours, so many across the nation were worried about your well-being, and we’re glad that you’re here before us.

This is not going to be an inquisition. I see nervousness in your face. Just relax. Like everyone else, we just want to know the truth. We sympathize with you, with the predicament that you’re in. It was a very difficult last several days, weeks or months for you, and perhaps today, which is Constitution Day by the way, today, the truth will set you free.

It is so hard to do the right thing in our country today. And so I congratulate you for trying to do the right thing. I assure you that we here in the Senate will help you do the right thing, whatever that right thing is, and whatever that will mean. So we congratulate you, we applaud you, and we support your efforts to do the right thing.

What has happened to you shows that this broadband deal is not about modernizing the Philippines. It is about lining the pockets of those in power. It is not about serving the Republic, it is about syndicated looting of our Treasury.

How high does this conspiracy go, to silence you?

I agree with former Senator Salonga that the controversy arising from the NBN deal is a quarrel among thieves, and I am not taking any sides in this issue except for the people’s side.

I hate it when functionaries in Malacañang call you a liar, and call senators grandstanders, when Cabinet members themselves are invoking executive privilege to escape the scrutiny of people.

And so I make this appeal to you: Even as we understand your predicament, be certain, be assured, that all we want is the truth. God bless you in today’s hearings.

Friday, February 8, 2008 | posted in angel atutubo, avelino razon, benjamin abalos, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, rodolfo lozada, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas demands copy of purported Lozada request for PNP security

Senator Mar Roxas today called on Philippine National Police Director-General Avelino Razon to furnish the Senate with a copy of the purported letter of Rodolfo Lozada, potential witness for the National Broadband Network probe in the Senate, requesting for security upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

“There is clear conflict between what Lozada’s family is saying and the claims of the PNP,” Roxas, co-chair of the NBN hearings, said.

“The only way to clear the air is for the PNP chief to produce the purported letter of Lozada and thereby show that all the actions of his subordinates were and continue to be above board,” he added.

The Liberal Party President also scored NAIA security authorities, headed by retired general Angel Atutubo, for negligence of the highest order in allowing a PNP impostor to enter the airport premises and take custody of Lozada.

“PNP Chief Razon has stated to the media that the policeman identified as SPO4 Roger Valeroso, who allegedly took Lozada, is not in the official rolls. Why was he given access to the most sensitive tarmac area without a thorough identity check?” Roxas asked.

He lamented, “This is an absurd situation, considering that the airport is a high security zone where people are subject to identity and baggage checks of the most stringent kind.”

Thursday, February 7, 2008 | posted in angel atutubo, avelino razon, benjamin abalos, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, rodolfo lozada, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Sen. Roxas on Abalos' resignation

Here's the official statement on Sen. Mar Roxas on COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos' resignation:

“With the resignation of Chairman Abalos, a chapter has just been closed but not the whole book. Justice must be pursued to its logical end in the ZTE affair.

I call on President Arroyo to appoint an immediate replacement who can restore the people’s faith in Philippine democracy.

It is imperative that the President appoint a qualified and credible replacement immediately to oversee the upcoming elections and undertake long-delayed electoral reforms. This is a make-or-break opportunity for the national leadership to restore lost credibility in our elections."

Read more...

Wednesday, October 3, 2007 | posted in benjamin abalos, pgma, philippines, president, zte deal | 1 comments [ More ]

John Nery on Mar Roxas

In his article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled "The ‘bully’ in Mar Roxas", John Nery said:

"... Sen. Mar Roxas was also cited, for his obvious facility with numbers and concepts.

I must confess, though, to a certain tentativeness about Roxas’ performance. Yes, he certainly seems to have done his homework. Of all the senators present (the blue ribbon committee alone has 17 members), he alone seems to have the consistent benefit of that old Ramos mantra, “complete staff work.” (How complete? Here’s an alternative gauge: Just about an hour after he tangled with Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso on the government’s estimate of the savings it would generate from the ZTE deal, his news release, complete with his quotes, was already in my email inbox -- and in dozens of other journalists’ inboxes too. The time stamp was 6:59 p.m.)

With his investment banking background, Roxas also knows enough to debate, not only economic policy, but the theoretical framework or philosophical assumption informing a given policy. Witness the altercation with Neri on whether financials should be included in the project evaluation. When was the last time a senator brought Modigliani (the economist Franco, Google tells us, not the artist Amedeo) into a legislative discussion?"

Sen. Roxas was the only one who had the guts to ask Asec. Formoso than any other senator in that chamber. Here's my post on those who accuse Sen. Roxas as 'bastos' and grandstanding in the Senate probe on the ZTE deal. I hope those accusing him would think twice on what they say.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007 | posted in benjamin abalos, mar roxas, romulo neri, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]