Let’s hear it, first, from the webpage of the ‘Patriots for Truth,’ which is run by someone anonymous but which was recommended to me from a friend the world of IT whose judgment I will always trust:

"For the past few weeks, we have heard what many people believe as the ‘truth’ behind the issues surrounding the ZTE-National Broadband Network controversy.

"But is it really the truth that we are hearing? Is Lozada’s ‘truth’ as unblemished as he claims it to be, or is it tainted by his interpretation of events to suit his needs and purposes? Is he the soft-spoken, helpless victim as he portrays himself to be?

"What is happening now involves the future of our nation We cannot allow half-truths or twisted versions of the truth to prevail and set off a political crisis where the Filipino people will end up as the ultimate losers because they have been deprived of what they need to know and misled by so-called ‘reluctant heroes.’

"We, the Patriots for Truth, seek to favor no one. Our mission is to expose the truth, not selective parts of it, but the entire, unsullied truth."

What it presents are audio clips that portray J. Lo as a co-conspirator of Joey de V.

(Hear these clips on DZXQ (1350 khz am) on Monday, March 3 at 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. or get them yourself at www.patriots4truth.blogspot.com/)

***

A new witness, one Dante Madriaga, was allowed by the Senate to weave his tangled web of unbelievable and fantastic claims; this is despite the fact that Madriaga himself admitted that he had no direct knowledge of the alleged irregularities he was disclosing. Madriaga admitted, under oath, that all the information he had he had received his information from other individuals.

For allowing Madriaga to submit hearsay testimony, the Senate committees have made themselves rumor mongers.

One could even doubt that Madriaga himself even believes what Madriaga says since, when asked to do so, Madriaga refused to sign an affidavit based on Madriaga’s own postings on the Internet which he himself circulated. He even sent me an email of this document.

Senators Richard Gordon and Rodolfo Biazon, members of the committee probing the deal, were surprised by Madriaga’s attitude. "Why would you need a lawyer if you yourself wrote it?" Gordon asked Madriaga. "What’s the difference between your written statement and your statement under oath before this hearing?"

Madriaga lamely replied that he wanted a lawyer to go over his Internet statement before signing it. Gordon said that Madriaga should first have consulted a lawyer before circulating his tale about who were involved in the alleged irregularities involved in the NBN deal.

So, why did the Senate bring in this tangled web-weaver to their investigation? Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Panfilo Lacson had earlier already warned the Senate against calling in Madriaga. They had had dealings with the man and both described this latest witness as a ""mercenary" and "extortionist" who wanted cash in exchange for his testimony.

Enrile said he had information that Madriaga, an employee of ZTE Corporation, which won the NBN contract, was fired after he was found leaking documents to a rival bidder – Joey de V’s Amsterdam Holdings.

Enrile also points out that Madriaga was also a former employee of the American firm Arescom which also lost a bid for the NBN contract and was paid "millions of pesos by some personalities involved in the controversy to appear as a witness in the public hearing."

Senator Lacson referred to Madriaga as having "hardly any credibility"; Lacson says that Madriaga demanded from P5 million to P10 million from various opposition personalities in exchange for his testimony.

Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella also warned against having Madriaga appear at the Senate hearing. He said that the Senate investigation would turn into a ‘circus’ with Madriaga as witness.

According to sources, Dante was previously hired as project director of Telepono sa Barangay at DOTC, but was later on fired after he was accused of usurpation of authority before the Ombudsman. He was caught signing documents without the proper authority.

ZTE Corporation, for its part, categorically denies the claim of Madriaga that ZTE advanced US$41 million so it could be awarded the NBN project. ZTE reiterates that it did not bribe anyone.

ZTE says: "Mr. Madriaga never directly took part in NBN project operations. We think Mr. Madriaga testified last Tuesday on the Senate on matters he did not participate in. Despite taking an oath in the Senate hearing, Mr. Madriaga’s testimony was obviously not based on factual knowledge."

So, why are we listening to still another tangled web-weaver?

Says ZTE: "All of the ZTE contract documents regarding the NBN project has been disclosed by the Senate and is available for public review. The documents would show that ZTE’s proposal adopts state-of-the-art technology and would provide nationwide coverage.

"Mr. Madriaga’s claim that the total cost of the NBN project should have only been US$50 million cannot stand its ground judged by industry common sense."

***

So many innocent persons have been dragged into this investigation that is beginning to take on the characteristics of a witch-hunt. Even the First Gentleman against whom any accusation is immediately believed to be true has been a victim.

Joey de V relates that when the FG told him to "back off," this was at Wack Wack and was either on December 4 or December 5, 2006.

St. Luke Hospital’s records show that Attorney Arroyo was just released after an angioplasty surgery and would not have been in a condition to go to Wack Wack on either day. And, even if he did go, he would not have had the strength to shout at Joey de V or even just to sit with his friends.