'I know nothing
about $41M bribes'
New NBN witness called a liar
By: Dennis Gadil
New witness Leo San Miguel yesterday
said he had no direct knowledge about the alleged $41
million in advances made by China's ZTE Corp. to the
"Greedy Group" of Benjamin Abalos Sr. in exchange for
the approval of the national broadband project.
"I'm not aware of any kickbacks or 'lagayan',"
San Miguel told the Senate tri-committee of blue ribbon,
defense and trade, which is investigating the overpriced
project.
Previous witnesses Jose "Joey" de
Venecia III, Rodolfo Lozada Jr. and Dante Madriaga, who
were present at the hearing, said San Miguel was lying.
THERE might be no need to review the
controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) with
China and Vietnam as the data acquisition in the South
China Sea appears to have been already completed, Rep.
Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) said yesterday.
"These talks from Malacañang about
extension or termination may be moot and academic," Golez
said.
The JMSU, which was signed in 2005,
involves the Philippine National Oil Co., the China
National Offshore Oil Co. (CNOOC) and Vietnam Oil and Gas
Corp. (PetroVietnam).
MAJOR public transport groups called off
their strike in Metro Manila before noon yesterdayafter
Malacañang announced the issuance of an executive order
addressing their concerns, principally the implementation of a
single traffic violation ticketing system in the metropolis.
Thousands of commuters were stranded in the
strike which started at midnight Tuesday. From 90 to 95 percent
of the metropolis was paralyzed, according to organizers of the
holiday transport that had been planned to last 24 hours.
Director Geary Barias, chief of the Metro
Manila police, said about 80 percent of public transport was
paralyzed around 9 a.m.
