Ombudsman's ZTE panel reconvenes

MANILA, Philippines - Social Security System president Romulo Neri and former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos have not been indicted about a month after the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge them in court with graft.

The STAR learned that the anti-graft agency’s special investigating panel for the NBN-ZTE deal has reconvened to study and evaluate the motions for reconsiderations of the two respondents.

Preliminary meetings have been held to discuss the motions seeking to reverse the Office of the Ombudsman’s Aug. 27, 2009 joint resolution.

The five-man team has also began studying the motions for reconsideration of the complainants, who are asking the anti-graft agency to charge First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and several other individuals for their supposed involvement in the contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corp.

The special investigating panel is headed by Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices Emilio Gonzalez III.

Its members are Mindanao-based Assistant Ombudsman Rodolfo Elman, Director Cesar Asuncion, and Deputy Special Prosecutors Jesus Micael and Robert Kallos.

Earlier, Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said the special investigating panel would reconvene as soon as all pleadings and motions are consolidated.

“They will be allowed to separately study and then deliberate (as a group) on whether to grant, deny or modify (the recommendations),” he said.

De Jesus said Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro would have approved any ruling because Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has inhibited herself from the investigation.

In a joint resolution, the panel has recommended that graft charges be filed against Neri and Abalos in court for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.     – Michael Punongbayan