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Pamalakaya asserts there was no Malacañang investigation on NBN contract
Palace asked: Does GMA probe team on ZTE deal exist?

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday questioned the authenticity and credibility of a “shadow probe body” organized by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into the alleged reports of bribery surrounding the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal.

“This mysterious probe organized by President Arroyo clearing government officials and owners of China’s ZTE Corp. is the grandmother of all mystery. The President Arroyo merely certified her role as the mystery woman and partner of the mystery man in the $329 million NBN scam,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“Mrs. Arroyo wants to land in the Guinness Book of Records by announcing something that will shock the world but at the same time makes this country as overnight biggest laughing stock across the globe. We believe there was no Malacañang probe on the NBN contract and President Arroyo merely took the public to another roller coaster ride,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap together with Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) national chairperson Rafael Mariano, Amihan peasant women group chairperson Carmen Buena and Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) chairman Rene Galang filed a diplomatic protest last Tuesday at the Chinese Consulate office in Makati City to demand the Chinese government to pull out the ZTE deal and scrapped the 19 agreements signed under the RP-China agreement.

At a meeting of ProPeformance and ProTransparency group, President Arroyo said she had organized a discreet investigation on the NBN project and found out that reports of bribery were unsubstantiated. But the Chief Executive did not provide details of the investigation.

“What investigation President Arroyo is talking about. She is talking on something that only exists in the minds of the operators of the ruling corrupt syndicate in Malacañang. If she is telling the truth, why she refused to give details? In the name of good governance, public trust and transparency, President Arroyo is legally and morally obliged to tell about this mysterious probe,” the Pamalakaya leader asserted.

Hicap pointed out that while the investigation conducted by President Arroyo asserted that reports of bribery were uncorroborated, former economic chief, now CHED chairman Romulo Neri testified before today’s Senate hearing that Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. offered him P 200 million in exchange for the approval of the NBN contract.

“Who is telling the truth? President Arroyo or Secretary Neri?” the Pamalakaya leader asked.

The militant group also questioned Arroyo’s formation of special panel to oversee projects under the China official development assistance program.

“The orgy of systematic and high crime of corruption in Malacañang is practically everywhere in Malacañang, and in almost all offices and agencies of this bankrupt administration. This is just for show, nothing more, nothing less,” Pamalakaya said of the special panel.

The special panel headed by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila include Budget secretary Rolando Andaya, Presidential Management Staff Cerge Remonde, a representative of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and one from the church sector. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:10 | link | comments |

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