SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday dismissed news reports that former Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) president Eduardo Mañalac is his new witness in the cancelled $329 million ZTE broadband deal.

"I have not met Mañalac. Di ko nga alam na may presidente pala ang PNOC na Mañalac (ang name)," Lacson said in a radio interview.

But Lacson said senators would give Mañalac a chance to say what he knows if he shows up at the resumption of the Senate’s ZTE hearing tomorrow.

"Kung makikita namin si Mr. Mañalac sa gallery at kung magpi-prisenta o boluntaryo siya na may alam sa ZTE, puwedeng ipatawag," he said.

He said Mañalac would testify in the Senate’s forthcoming probe on the Spratly deal between the Philippines, China and Vietnam regarding the joint exploration of the disputed islands.

"Definitely, may iba siyang kausap, hindi ako," Lacson said.

Lacson said he is not aware if Mañalac is close to former Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Reports said De Venecia endorsed Mañalac’s appointment to the PNOC to President Arroyo.

Lacson reiterated the Spratly probe should be conducted by the Senate defense committee of Sen. Rodolfo Biazon with the Senate foreign relations committee of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago as the secondary committee.

He said Santiago is too busy campaigning for a seat in the International Court of Justice and might not be up for the job as lead investigating chairman.

"Dapat lang defense kasi seguridad ito ng bansa. Pinamimigay mo na ang bansa," he said.

Senate President Manuel Villar said Mañalac might fill in the missing links left hanging by the non-appearance of acting Higher Education chair Romulo Neri on the ZTE inquiry.

"Hindi ko siya kilala, pero the mere fact na presidente siya ng PNOC would mean may sinasabi siyang tao," Villar said.

Villar said committee hearings would proceed even during the Lenten break.

ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada said he believes that Mañalac could be a "good" witness.

Lozada, in an ambush interview after the Mass for Truth at De La Salle University in Manila, said he and Mañalac were introduced to each other at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

"If he volunteered to testify, then I think he will tell the truth. He is a good man. He was well-placed in the government so I think he knows something important," Lozada said.

Lacson has said his new witness would reveal information on the disbursement of the $46 million advances paid to the "Greedy Group" purportedly including President Arroyo and her husband Mike.