MANILA, Philippines - The businessman son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. pressured anew yesterday Sen. Richard Gordon to release the Senate Blue Ribbon committee report on the botched $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.
“Is he seeking approval of the final draft from his superiors in Malacañang?” asked Joey de Venecia, noting that since Gordon is running for president in the May 2010 elections, he might be seeking clearance first from President Arroyo.
The son and namesake of the ousted speaker, who represents Pangasinan, said it has been “more than two weeks” since Gordon vowed to release his report, but that until now he “has yet to deliver on his promise.”
“Before he devotes all his time to politics, Sen. Gordon should take care of more important matters first. The Blue Ribbon report on ZTE-NBN should be a top priority for him,” said De Venecia.
De Venecia, who lost his bid for the broadband project to China’s ZTE Corp., had engaged Gordon in a verbal tussle in the last hearing of the case in the Senate, where the senator said he wanted the De Venecia father and son charged, contrary to the Ombudsman ruling.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the indictment of former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and former National Economic and Development Authority secretary-general Romulo Neri, but excluded President Arroyo, her husband Mike and the De Venecias.
The young De Venecia accused Gordon of taking orders from Malacañang to implicate him and his father in exchange for “special favors.”
A failed presidential contender under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Gordon is expected to seek reelection next year, he said.
“As a lawyer, he should know better. I was the whistleblower and my proposal was aboveboard. More importantly, I am a private citizen, not a government official like himself. The Ombudsman can only run after government officials,” Joey stressed.
De Venecia added that Gordon has had prior experience on being charged before the Ombudsman.
During Gordon’s term as head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, he was charged with malversation of public funds in excess of P800 million after the Commission on Audit disallowed with finality his various cash advances.
Last month, the Senate urged the former speaker to testify before the Blue Ribbon committee on the aborted $329-million NBN deal.
Gordon said he wants De Venecia to tie some loose ends in his testimony before the House of Representatives.
“His testimony at the lower house showed that Gloria (GMA) has not committed any wrongdoing.
“We studied it, we made some charts and we saw that there were many gaps (in De Venecia’s statements). And I want those gaps answered. I think I will call one more hearing early next week, and immediately after that we will make the decision,” Gordon said.
As parliamentary courtesy, Gordon said the Senate cannot demand De Venecia’s presence.
“We cannot invite him. If he wants to come, he can come if he likes… he is welcome to come,” the senator said.
“There were some gaps in his statement. When I make the presentation next time I will show the gaps.”
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the former speaker should just manifest his intent to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon hearings rather than make announcements over the issue.
“He has been saying that he will appear for a long time, and he has not showed up. We are not a part of the House, so we make our own judgment here,” Enrile said.
Gordon said the Blue Ribbon committee also wants whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr., Social Security System president Romulo Neri, and Trade Secretary Peter Favila to return to the witness stand.
“Anybody who wants to show up (should come) because this is just a clean-up. If they want to show up, they can show up. If they don’t want to come, then we will make our own conclusions,” he said.