by Dennis Gadil
Jose de Venecia III yesterday said Miguel “Mike” Arroyo tried to bully him into backing out from the controversial national broadband network project in favor of Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Corp. (ZTE), the Chinese company allegedly sponsored by Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.
“It is with a heavy heart that I cannot deny that it was First Gentleman Mike Arroyo at the reconciliatory meeting,” De Venecia said at the first hearing by the Senate blue ribbon into the allegedly overpriced $329 million contract.
De Venecia, son of Speaker Jose de Venecia, earlier said there was a “powerful” man who joined Abalos in asking him to drop the bid of his company, Amsterdam Holdings Inc., during a meeting at Wack Wack Golf Club also attended by Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza.