No doubt, the broadband deal has become a blockbuster. Rightly so, with a $329 million (P16.4 billion at the exchange rate of P50 to $1 at the time it was negotiated). It’s turning out to be mind-boggling in scope and audacity.

Although the title NBN/ZTE deal has already become a byword, there have been more colorful quotes from participants like "back off" or "may 200 ka dito" and the most recent "moderate their greed."

It even has an all-star cast. As a reference, we are coming out with a partial cast of characters. We will update the list as the story unfolds. Except for the top six main characters, we will list the names in alphabetical order.

Gloria Arroyo. The luckiest bitch (according her economic adviser Joey Salceda), who left her ailing husband in April 2007 to witness the signing of the contract in Boao, China. Her own propagandists likened that undertaking to that of a "thief in the night." Former NEDA chief Romulo Neri had described her as "evil." according to Lozada.

Mike Arroyo. Husband of the "luckiest bitch" whom Abalos called on when the project was encountering problems.

Benjamin Abalos. The chairman of the Commission on Election who made Gloria Arroyo win even if majority of the Filipino voters didn’t vote for her. Head of the group of "Filipino consultants" who packaged the NBN/ZTE deal. He wanted $130 million as commission, according to Lozada. That’s equivalent to P6.5 billion pesos.

(A health group said P6.5 billion is more than half of the entire budget of the Department of Health and more than five times the budget of the Philippine General Hospital. It could have funded 49,000 open-heart surgeries; 325,000 cataract surgeries, and purchased antibiotics for 6,500,000 people.

Jose de Venecia III. President of Amsterdam Holdings, competitor of ZTE. Son of ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Romulo Neri. Former head of the National Economic Development Authority , the approving body of all foreign-funded projects, who initially opposed the NBN/ZTE deal. He revealed in a Senate hearing that he was offered by Abalos P200 million. He, however, refused to implicate Arroyo.

Rodolfo Noel Lozada. Consultant to Neri, was sent by Malacañang to Hong Kong to evade Senate investigation. Abducted upon his return to Manila. Testified at the Senate.

Supporting cast:

Lorenzo Formoso, DOTC assistant secretary and commissioner of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology which is the office that is in charge of the NBN/ZTE project.

Manuel Gaite. Need P500,000? Call up Gaite, deputy executive secretary. No questions asked. Cash always ready.

Leandro Mendoza, DOTC secretary who has jurisdiction over the NBN/ZTE project.

Ricky Razon. Businessman and good friend of the Arroyos. Treasurer of the administration’s Team Unity in the 2004 elections.

Ruben Reyes. Good friend of Abalos and part of the Filipino consultants group that dealt with ZTE.

Leo San Miguel. Technical head of the Filipino consultants group of Abalos.

Quirino de la Torre. Retired PNP officer and good friend of Abalos. Also part of the consultants group

Fan Yang. Commercial attaché, Chinese Embassy.

Yu Yong. ZTE official.

More next week including the characters involved in the kidnapping subplot.