JDV son says Neri can run SSS well but...

MANILA, Philippines - While "star witness" Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr is dismayed over the appointment of Commission on Higher Education chairman Romulo Neri as president of the Social Security System, the "whistleblower" in the $329.48-million ZTE broadband deal mess has given him a vote of confidence. Businessman Jose de Venecia III said Friday he believes Neri has the brains to run the SSS, but is hampered because of his clamming up on the ZTE mess during a Senate investigation. "Kaya niyang i-fill ang shoes ni Corazon dela Paz at i-administer ang pension na yan sa mabuting paraan. Ang problema kasi kay Romy Neri, pag lagi mo sinasabi pangalan ni Romy Neri, isip mo lagi ang ZTE controversy at executive privilege (I believe he can fill the shoes of Corazon dela Paz and administer the pension well. But the problem with Romy Neri is that when you mention his name, the ZTE controversy and his repeated invocation of executive privilege automatically come to mind)," De Venecia said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Neri was appointed head of the SSS to replace Corazon dela Paz. He formally takes over the top SSS post on August 1, amid claims his new post was a reward for his silence on the ZTE mess. Earlier, Lozada voiced dismay over Neri's acceptance of the new post, saying it showed Neri chose to stay with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo whom he once described as "an evil person." But De Venecia, whose testimonies at the Senate were said to have cost his father Jose Jr his post as House speaker last February, said Neri has the potential to do a good job at SSS. "Tanggalin mo ang controversy kay Neri (Just remove that controversy involving Neri), he is capable of being SSS president. I'm comfortable with him being president and CEO of SSS," he said. - GMANews.TV