Defensor won't inhibit over son's involvement in ZTE-Diwalwal deal

MANILA, Philippines - House Justice committee chair and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr on Wednesday refused to inhibit himself from the impeachment proceedings because of his son former chief-of-staff Mike Defensor's involvement in the allegedly anomalous ZTE-Diwalwal mining contract. At the start of the hearing, Defensor said his decision stemmed from a request from House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr to inhibit himself from the proceedings. But Defensor, while acknowledging that his son signed the memorandum of agreement with ZTE, said he has no reason to inhibit. "There seems to be no reason for me to inhibit. I am not here to defend Mike Defensor because he seems to be able to defend himself," Defensor said. The lawmaker said he will submit a copy of the memorandum of agreement on the mining operations in Diwalwal to the committee secretariat for public scrutiny, so that "the media can take a look" if the document provided that ZTE will get 90 percent of the mined ores. The allegedly anomalous contract is one of the basis for the 93-page impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV