House officials take up cudgels for Gonzales

Two senior lawmakers took up the cudgels yesterday for embattled National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who drew criticism for revealing that the government’s P55-million contract with a United States law firm was paid for by private donors.

House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan, in a joint statement, argued that while the public has the right to know the identities of these donors, "prudence dictates" that the government seek the donors’ permission first.

"Some of the donors might want to remain anonymous, and in that case, the government has to respect their request," they said, accusing the opposition of using the government’s one-year contract with US law firm Venable LLP to renew attacks on the Arroyo administration.

Gonzales said Venable’s task was to find out why many of the aid and grant commitments from the US have not borne fruit and lobby for Washington to release funds for these commitments.

He denied reports that Venable was primarily tapped to secure US support for the administration’s plan to amend the Constitution, particularly to shift the form of government to a parliamentary federal system and to change restrictive economic provisions.

"What happened was that when the contract was being finalized, Venable asked if there is any other concern they could help us on and I said the two major issues of the administration are Charter change and fighting corruption," Gonzales said.

Nograles said members of the opposition are "obviously smarting" from the dismissal of their impeachment complaints against President Arroyo and are "using the Venable issue to continue their vilification campaign" against her.

He also complained that it was "entirely unfair" for Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico and the President’s other detractors to suggest the donors may be "shady characters" such as drug or gambling lords, or even businessmen, with interests to protect.

"Donations to fund government projects are nothing new, as this has been done before in cases like the Bayanihan Fund solicited by House Speaker Jose de Venecia to help the government through the financial crisis," Nograles said.

Libanan said the opposition’s prejudgment of the Venable contract could be construed as "persecution," and urged the public to refrain from being "too quick in judging the donors whose sole intention could well be only to help the country."Instead of continuously criticizing the contract, Libanan called on the opposition to be "more judicious" in studying the issue.

"The opposition should let Gonzales answer all the pertinent questions in the proper forum," he said.

Suplico, along with Muntinlupa City Rep. Rufino Biazon, said the use of private funds for the Venable deal in effect denied Gonzales the right to enter into a contract in behalf of the government.

Biazon urged Mrs. Arroyo to "rethink" Gonzales’ "retention in the position," saying Gonzales "shows lack of national security acumen in entering into the contract. The use of private funds is still unacceptable, especially because he did it without securing the funds first."

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the funds supplied by these anonymous donors cannot be used by the executive branch without prior consent from Congress.

"How come… private individuals are paying for the financial obligation of the Republic of the Philippines? If that money really came from private donation, it should first go to the National Treasury. And it cannot be disbursed without the authorization of Congress," he said.

Pimentel said official records of the donations and the donors’ names must be disclosed. He added that it was "fantastic and preposterous" for Gonzales — who signed the contract last July 25 as the President’s "authorized representative" — to claim he does not know the identities of these donors and never bothered to find out.

Pimentel said Gonzales was in no position to sign the contract since he does not head any line department even if he holds a Cabinet rank. — With Marvin Sy