LAWYER Francis Y. Villanueva, former chief of staff of
Commissioner Nicasio A. Conti of the Presidential Commission on Good Government,
yesterday branded Conti’s implication in the alleged P1 million donation
demanded from Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC) for use in the PCGG’s 2005
Christmas party as a "total lie."
"All raffle items of modest amount and expenses for the
Christmas party had been liquidated and accounted for to the last centavo. There
was no P1 million donation given to the Christmas Committee. Commissioner Conti
ensured that the procedure followed by the 2005 Christmas Committee, from its
inception to terminal reporting, was the most transparent in PCGG’s history. Mr.
Nick Suarez, the president of the PCGG Employees Association can readily attest
to this, being also a member of said Committee," Villanueva said in a statement.
He said if there was really a demand for and an acceptance of
P1 million from PHC as reported during an earlier press conference by PCGG
Chairman Camilo L. Sabio, Conti, the members of the 2005 Christmas Committee,
and himself were not involved.
Conti is currently attending a three-month Public Reform
Sector course in the University of Bradford at the United Kingdom.
Villanueva maintained that Conti’s record in the Malacańang
based Transparency Group that jumpstarted the lifestyle probe of government
officials in the year 2003, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and the PCGG
testifies to his integrity. He said Conti’s proven track record in
anti-corruption, which earned him enemies, is one of the compelling reasons why
he was awarded the prestigious Chevening Fellowship in the United Kingdom.
"We welcome, join and support Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s quest for the truth to
find out who really benefited from the reported P1 million donation to the PCGG,"
Villanueva said, adding that any investigation should begin with Sabio himself.
NZ asks citizens in RP to
register with embassy
THE New Zealand embassy has asked its citizens in an advisory
to register their presence in the Philippines to enable diplomats to fully help
them "in the event of an emergency, whether it is a natural disaster, civil
disturbance or a family emergency".
The embassy said that registration may be done in person, by
mail or online through the website www.kiwisoverseas.govt.nz.
The embassy said there are 318 New Zealanders living here but
only 93 are registered on its website. Some 11,000 New Zealanders also visit the
Philippines yearly.
The embassy said registration is voluntary and personal information provided
will be held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its overseas posts
for consular purposes only. In its most recent travel advisory, New Zealand
warned its citizens of "extreme risk" throughout Mindanao, and "some risk of
terrorism and kidnapping" elsewhere in the country. – Anthony Ian Cruz
