1.President Arroyo revoked today Executive Order 464, which bars top government officials from testifying in legislative inquiries without express permission from the President. “Effective immediately,…
Making life worth living.
Category: NBN/ZTE
Statement of former senior government officials:
We are former senior government officials who have served the government in the administrations of Presidents Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo. Today we see how the institutions of government are being manipulated, weakened, and corrupted. We are committed to help rebuild and strengthen the government institutions in which we worked to serve the public good rather than personal and partisan interests.
Our people can only trust a government that governs with truth. We grant government so much power over our lives, resources and shared future because it governs with truth. When there are serious doubts about government’s adherence to truth in matters of vital public interest, no real peace or substantive unity is possible until such doubts are resolved. We cannot move on without the truth.
by Peter Tabingo
Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman to junk criminal complaints against him, saying allegations that he is involved in anomalies in the $329 million ZTE broadband project were fabricated.
In his first-ever appearance in the Ombudsman probe on the ZTE deal, the First Gentleman claimed ignorance of the details of the contract and denied allegations he offered a bribe and that he told ZTE whistleblower Jose “Joey” de Venecia III to “back off” from the project.
Related article: Cat is out of the bag
by Wendell Vigilia
Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) has called for a House investigation into the “Spratly deal” between the Philippine and Chinese governments in exchange for what he called anomalous deals such as the $329 million national broadband network and the $500 million NorthRail project.
“Already, this issue has been swirling with dangerous implications in defense and security-related eGroups (e-mail groups) and must be clarified urgently in a formal forum such as a congressional inquiry,” Golez said.
Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the “Spratly deal” which he alleged was entered into by the Arroyo administration with China “in exchange for dirty loans.”
Following are two articles that I wrote four years ago about the super-secret agreement on the exploration in the South China Sea with China and Vietnam.
Why the secrecy?
Malaya, Sept. 10, 2004
ONE of the agreements signed during President Arroyo’s recent visit to China was on Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in the South China Sea between the Philippine National Oil Company and the China National Offshore Oil Company.
“It’s futile asking GMA to resign’
Caption:Lozada, Charmaine Deogracias of NHK TV, and myself
ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. yesterday called on upright members of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police to make a stand on the issue of corruption hounding the Arroyo administration.
In an interview at La Salle Greenhills, Lozada said the opposition should abandon its call for President Arroyo to resign. “She has to be ousted.”
March 16 is the new date for this game for the Sanctuary Fund. “Magkasangga sa Katotohanan” will feature players from the usually-rival schools teaming up…
Whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada urged Filipinos tonight to demand from the Arroyo government an accounting of the $1.4 billion loans it obtained from China last year.
Speaking at around 6:30 p.m, Lozada said the $329 million NBN deal financed from a loan from the Chinese government was just the tip of the iceberg. The government, he said, borrowed from China last year a total of $1.8 billion.
Lozada had earlier told a Senate inquiry the contract was overpriced, with former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos supposedly seeking a $130 million cut with the Palace’s knowledge.
Last Tuesday, as Filipinos were glued to their radio and TV sets following the latest development in the great rip-off, which is the NBN/ZTE deal, detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed Resolution No. 309 asking the Senate to investigate the agreement signed by Gloria Arroyo with China in September 2004 to explore areas in the South China Sea including parts belonging exclusively to the Philippines.
Trillanes’ resolution directs the Committees on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), National Defense and Security, and Environment and Natural Resources to undertake the investigation after Malaya came out with a report last week that what Malacañang once dubbed as a “landmark” agreement to jointly explore parts of the disputed islands in the Spratlys is actually a “treacherous sellout of Philippine interest and Philippine sovereignty in exchange fro overpriced loans for anomalous projects which include the ZTE-NBN deal, the North Rail and South Rail projects, the Department of Education’s Cyber-Ed project among others.”
March 16 is the new date for this game for the Sanctuary Fund.
Blue against Green. Eagles against Archers. Ateneo versus La Salle.
At almost every turn, people recognize that these three statements could only spell one thing: competition. Arguably the most storied rivalry in the country, a game that has “La Salle” in the same line as “Ateneo” always draws interest from people who get to know about it because they are sure to catch a highly spirited, tension-filled, and exciting game. People recognize that “Blue” is never a good combination for “Green”.
But in the light of the current turmoil our country faces today, when lies, excuses, and cover ups fill our television sets, radios and even newspapers, that line that separates the “Green” from the “Blue” disappears to show strong, united force seeking one thing: TRUTH.