BY GERARD NAVAL

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos yesterday admitted that executives of the Chinese telecom firm ZTE Corporation are his friends but denied he brokered the $329 million (P15 billion) national broadband network project.

Abalos said the people involved in the broadband deal are "golf mates" and that he even considers them as his "extended family."

"I treated them, yes. And they returned the favor. That’s the way golfers are. We sometimes come up with parties for a group of golfers that comes here. That’s how golfers are, we spoil each other even if our wallets hurt afterwards," he said.

"If you are nice to people, they will return the favor. I always tell my children and people close to me to be nice and your nicety will come back to you in any way. When they were here, I treated them like kings, lavished Philippine food on them," he added.

Abalos said one ZTE official became his daughter’s "kumare" and she helped her in sourcing her products.

He reiterated there is no truth to allegations by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla that he brokered the broadband deal.

"It’s incredible the way they say how powerful I am. I mean, brokering this deal involving two national governments," he said.

On his trips to China which Padilla alleged were sponsored by ZTE officials, Abalos said: "Tell me what’s wrong in going to China? Is there anything wrong with it? They are my friends and golf mates."

But he failed to address the question that ZTE officials picked up the tab for his trips.

He said he has yet to determine if he will file any legal case against Padilla but he is willing to face a congressional probe.

The Department of Transportation and Communications awarded ZTE Corp. the project which would facilitate connection among local government units down to the barangays. It is estimated that the project will save government P3.4 billion yearly in phone bills.

ZTE bagged the contract despite having the highest offer among the other bidders – Amsterdam Holdings and Arescom of the United States.

Critics said the deal was grossly disadvantageous to government and it was not accompanied by public bidding.

A DOJ opinion, however, said the contract was government-to-government, thus, there is no need for public bidding.

House minority leader Ronaldo Zamora said they will actively participate in the committee deliberations on the allegations of Padilla against Abalos.

"We’re closely monitoring the investigation. I think there’s more to be asked and more to be answered regarding the allegation of Padilla," he said.

Zamora said they do not discount the possibility that the issue could spawn impeachment complaints against Abalos.

In his privilege speech Wednesday night, Padilla asked why Abalos’ unofficial travels to China last March, including his hotel accommodations, were sponsored by ZTE.

Padilla said that on several occasions early this year, Abalos "was also seen playing golf with officials of ZTE Corp. in Shenzen, China."

Padilla on Tuesday filed criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Undersecretary Lorenzo Formoso and Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Telecommunications Policy Act, the Build-Operate-Transfer Act and the Government Procurement Act.

House majority leader Arthur Defensor acknowledged that Padilla’s allegations are "serious."

Defensor said the Padilla’s speech will be referred to the committee on good government of Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, the committee on information and communication technology chaired by Rep. Joseph Santiago, and the oversight committee chaired by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez. – With Wendell Vigilia