Neri posts bail, evades arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Social Security System (SSS) president Romulo Neri posted bail of P30,000 yesterday afternoon after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against him.

Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit told The STAR they are preparing their comment to Neri’s motion for judicial determination of probable cause. It was filed before his case was raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division last Friday, she added.

Barreras-Sulit said they are ready to file charges against former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and Neri before the Sandiganbayan.

“We will assess the records first to determine if there is a need to form a panel,” she said.

Barreras-Sulit said she and her deputy special prosecutors will review the resolutions of the Office of the Ombudsman recommending the filing of graft charges against Abalos and Neri.

They are discussing legal strategies and the forming of a special panel of prosecutors to handle the graft cases arising from the controversial national broadband network contract between the government and Chinese firm ZTE Corp., she added.

The case against Abalos went to the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division.

Under the rules, the Sandiganbayan has 10 days to evaluate the information filed before deciding whether to issue arrest warrants and hold departure orders against the accused.

Abalos is accused of brokering for ZTE Corp. and offering a bribe to Neri to ensure that the $329-million project would push through.

Neri, as National Economic and Development Authority director general, allegedly approved the project despite knowing about the irregularities.

Abalos and Neri are charged with violating Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Lozada’s bodyguards gone by June 30

Whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada’s security detail and those of two other witnesses in other cases being investigated by the Senate will be withdrawn by June 30.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said it will be up to his successor to decide on the fate of Lozada, Carolina Hinola and Namnama Pacete-Santos.

“I don’t think anyone is going to kill those people,” he said in Filipino.

“We gave them security so they couldn’t complain. If I were Senate president when they asked for security I wouldn’t have granted it, it’s just extra expense for government,” he added.

Speaking over dzBB radio on Sunday, Enrile said a witness or a whistleblower should be ready to face the consequences of his actions.

“If you want to help the country and expose wrongdoing, you stake your life on it,” Enrile said.

Lozada had testified against former elections chief Abalos on the anomalous $329-million ZTE contract and has been under the protective custody since 2009 of Senate sergeant-at-arms retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr.

He also remains under the protection of the nuns of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines ever since he and his family sought refuge at the De La Salle University in Greenhills, San Juan.

Witnesses Hinola and Pacete-Santos testified against former Sto. Domingo, Albay mayor Celso de los Angeles, owner of the Legacy Group of Companies which eventually collapsed under allegations of fraud by his investment and banking companies.

The 14th Congress ended June 4, following its sine die adjournment.

Lozada, Hinola and Pacete-Santos were also linked to the controversial cases they had testified against.

The Senate had failed to approve the committee report of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on the ZTE deal and the committee report of the Senate trade and commerce committee on the Legacy scam.

As a result, their recommendations against certain personalities could not be acted upon by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Congress also failed to act on the proposed Whistleblowers Act of Sen. Panfilo Lacson to protect government witnesses in Senate committee hearings. - With Christina Mendez