BY JP LOPEZ

SEN. Mar Roxas yesterday asked President Arroyo to submit either a sworn statement or make a deposition on what she knows about the national broadband deal with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications Corp. (ZTE).

"Sabihin lang niya, ‘Ito yung nagsabi sa akin, ito yung sinabi sa akin, ito ang dahilan kaya tinuloy ko pa rin ang pag-witness ng pirmahan, at itong yung dahilan kaya for five months wala akong ginawa para itigil ang kontratang ito,’" said Roxas, co-chairman of the tri-committee panel investigating the ZTE deal.

He said the President, through her lawyer, could answer "What did the President know (about the anomalies in the project)? When did she know it? What did she do about it?"

The Senate tri-committee composed of trade and commerce, Blue Ribbon, and national defense and security, said it would ask dzRH radio station to furnish the transcript of its interview with President Arroyo last Saturday.

Blue Ribbon chair Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate will also ask dzMM radio station for a copy of an interview with Trade Secretary Peter Favila also on the ZTE deal.

Cayetano and Roxas called on the President to cooperate with the Senate inquiry.

"Para mapatunayan o maipakita talaga na interesado, seryoso ang Malacañang na malaman ang katotohanan, una, i-revoke ang EO 464; pangalawa, utusan ang mga Cabinet na may kinalaman dito na sumipot at magsabi ng katotohanan; pangatlo, pag kinakailangan, isuspinde itong mga may kinalaman dito para hindi naman makulayan itong kontrata," said Roxas.

In the interview Arroyo said she was informed about the irregularities on the eve of her trip to China on April 21, 2007 to attend the Boao Forum for Asia and witness the signing of the NBN and Cyber Education supply contracts.

The NBN-ZTE supply contract was signed April 22, 2007 by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ZTE Corp. president Yu Yong.

Arroyo canceled the deal on Sept. 22, 2007 over allegations of payoffs to government officials.

But the President only informed Chinese President Hu Jintao of her decision on Oct. 2, 2007.

‘COPY FOR FG’

Sen. Jamby Madrigal said she is in possession of a letter signed by then Planning Secretary Romulo Neri addressed to Chinese Ambassador Li Jin Jun, with a marginal note saying "copy for FG."

In the letter, dated March 29, 2007, Neri thanked Ambassador Li for China’s support on the cyber-education project and NBN.

Neri also informed China that President Arroyo approved the cyber-education project in the amount of P26.4 billion, of which P22.7 billion would be secured through a loan from China.

"We hope that your Ministry of Commerce may expedite the necessary approvals and give utmost priority to this project, as quality education for all is of paramount interest to our country," Neri said in the letter.

GROSSLY UNFAIR

Mike Arroyo, through his lawyer Ruy Rondain, denied he received any document on the ZTE controversy.

"It defies common sense to furnish Mr. Arroyo a copy of any document not only on the ZTE deal but on any government transaction since Mr. Arroyo is not, and has never been a government official. He also does not interfere in governance," Rondain said.

Rondain emphasized that anyone could have written the phrase "Copy for FG" as a marginal note on any or all documents in the deal.

"It is grossly unfair to immediately allude to Mr. Arroyo as the ‘FG’ in the note before exhausting all possible explanations on the issue."

DRASTIC ACTION

President Arroyo ordered the Department of Justice to undertake an unbiased but speedy probe into the ZTE controversy.

In her speech at the economic meeting attended by 57 provincial governors and the NEDA Cabinet group, Arroyo said government, Church, civil society and the media must prove to the public that there is truth and justice in the country’s democratic and judicial institutions.

She also said the real "people power" is all about guarding the judicial process in order to ferret out the truth.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said the President is affected by the broadband controversy but she must set aside her emotions because she needs to focus on her job.

Fajardo said "drastic action" is needed to show the people that government is serious in fighting graft and corruption but she said the search for truth is complicated by the fact that the public already has preconceived notions about the broadband controversy.

Fajardo said she sees no reason for Malacañang not to allow Cabinet members to appear at the Senate inquiry but there are conditions that must be met. She did not elaborate. – With Regina Bengco