Lozada: Abalos told me about P200-million bribe

MANILA, Philippines - Former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos told Rodolfo Lozada Jr. in a meeting at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong that he had offered a P200-million bribe in 2007 to then National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Romulo Neri in connection with the national broadband network (NBN) deal, the whistle-blower told the anti-graft court yesterday.

Testifying before the Sandiganbayan, Lozada, former Philippine Forest Corp. president, said Neri did not show any “violent reaction” nor did he react in any way when told about the statement of Abalos.

“He did not say anything,” Lozada told Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba during direct examination.

When asked if he knew of the saying that “silence means acquiescence,” Lozada said “yes.”

Neri’s legal counsel attacked the idea during cross-examination.

Lawyer Paul Lentejas asked Lozada if Neri ever asked for a commission in exchange for the NEDA approval of the NBN contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corporation.

Lozada replied: “No, sir.”

Asked if Neri had any pecuniary interest in the deal, Lozada said: “None, sir.”

Lozada was the prosecution’s second witness against Neri.

Abalos is facing a separate graft case before the Sandiganbayan, where Neri was presented as the prosecution’s first witness.

In his testimony, Neri said Abalos did offer him P200 million during a golf game at Wack Wack, supposedly in exchange for NEDA’s approval of the NBN deal.

However, defense lawyer Joselito Ferrer, during cross-examination, was able to make his client explain to the court that NEDA is a collegial body which “always acts collegially.”

Neri is facing graft charges for alleged involvement in the botched $329-million NBN-ZTE contract.