DANTE Madriaga, the Senate's new witness in the NBN-ZTE deal, was declared as having passed the first phase of a "credibility" test after a five-hour grilling by the technical working group of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

"There's no major reason to say that he's not credible," Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, panel chair said. "But I'm not ready to say for example that it's the opinion of the entire committee. Individually, pwede."

Most of the senators initially doubted the credibility of Madriaga, implying he could be a "Trojan Horse."

Cayetano stressed it would be up to the Senate tri-committee of Blue Ribbon, Trade and Defense to determine if Madriaga is indeed credible when the joint body drafts its committee report.

"For a person to attain a level of credibility, half will say no (to his testimony), half will say yes," Cayetano said.

He said while some of the claims of Madriaga were considered as hearsay, it does not stop the Senate tri-committee from following the trail of the information.

"We just can't dismiss hearsay," he added.

He also said the Senate blue ribbon's TWG is now drafting its initial committee report.

Cayetano defended Sen. Panfilo Lacson's penchant for coming out with witnesses like Lozada and Madriaga.

"There's nothing illegal and immoral sa ginagawa ni Sen. Lacson. Ang masama kung dinidiktahan ni Sen. Lacson 'yung sasabihin nila," he said.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has said he wanted to know what information Lacson had about the witnesses before they appeared in the hearings.

Cayetano said he will meet with the co-chairs of the Senate joint panel, Manuel Roxas II and Rodolfo Biazon and Senate President Manuel Villar today to schedule the next hearing this week. - Dennis Gadil