Malacañang yesterday said the upcoming Senate report absolving President Arroyo from any liability on the anomalous $329-million national broadband network (NBN) project is a "vindication" for the national leadership.

The Palace was reacting to the statement Tuesday of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Blue Ribbon committee, that the Senate tri-committee investigation on the NBN-ZTE deal had yielded evidence "leading up to the Office of the President" but there was no direct testimony that would link President Arroyo to the anomalies in the project.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Romulo Neri correctly invoked executive privilege when he refused to answer questions that could have linked the President directly to the deal.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said it was very clear from the start that there was no evidence linking the President to the NBN-ZTE scam.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the focus should now shift on the fact-finding investigation of the Ombudsman and Department of Justice on the criminal and civil liability of officials behind the alleged bribery.

"Their (Ombudsman and DOJ) non-partisan, due process hearings on NBN and related issues have strict rules of evidence, questioning of witnesses by expert lawyers, and sanctions on those proven guilty," he said.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the truth about the NBN-ZTE project "is already known to everybody."

"Whatever happens in the succeeding days will not matter that much anymore," Cruz said.

He added: "There is no more hope that the administration or the greedy group could be exonerated from the NBN deal. The conclusion is foregone already."

Cruz said even if the Supreme Court reverses March 25 decision where it upheld the Neri's decision to invoke executive privilege, it still will not matter that much.

"It's okay because, after all, the truth, so to speak, is already out 95 percent. Neri could still contribute perhaps 5 percent," said the former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.