JDV son calls on Senate to release report on ZTE

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Jose “Joey" De Venecia III, the whistleblower in the anomalous $329.48-million national broadband deal between the government and China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE), reiterated his call to the Senate to release its report on the ZTE broadband scandal. A report by GMA News' Tina Panganiban Perez on QTV's Balitanghali quoted De Venecia III as saying that it has been a year since he testified before the Senate but until now, those who committed the wrongdoings are yet to be held accountable. Last month, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said they are set to release the preliminary report on the controversial ZTE hearing in September. Cayetano added they are still hoping that De Venecia’s father, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr would testify to reveal what he knows on the issue before they release the report. The younger De Venecia said that he has no idea what his father is going to reveal. But, if the older De Venecia’s revelation would help shed light on the controversy, then he should testify. To recall, Representative De Venecia was with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she visited the ZTE headquarters in Shenzhen, China in November 2006. He was ousted from his post as House speaker following the testimony of his son before the Senate joint panels’ investigation about the controversial ZTE broadband deal. After his ouster, the former House leader said he will testify before the Senate panels investigating the controversial ZTE-NBN controversy but until now, has yet to fulfill his promise. At the same time, the younger De Venecia expressed his support for Rodolfo “Jun" Lozada, following ruling of the Court of Appeals to dismiss his kidnap case against some members of the Philippine National Police. Moreover, Joey De Venecia said he is hopeful that his pending petitions for writ of habeas data before the appellate court will not experience the same fate that Lozada’s case had. The younger De Venecia also hinted that he will no longer run for public office to replace his father in the province of Pangasinan, adding that his stepmother, Gina de Venecia is more equipped to seek public office in the 2010. - GMANews.TV