Bribe attempt? Neri quotes Abalos: ‘Sec, may 200 ka rito’

Secretary Romulo Neri, former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, said Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos told him over a golf game between January and February 2007 that he could expect "200" from the approval of the ZTE Corporation's contract for the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) project. Pressed for comment on Neri's statement, Abalos said, "hindi ko naiintindihan yung 200 na sinasabi...whether it's 200 million, 200 thousand, 200 pesos...How can i comment on something when itong nag-na-narrate could not say whether it was 200 million o 200 thousand." Neri, on questioning by Senate President Manuel Villar, if he had conversations with Abalos on the NBN project, narrated: "Chairman Abalos came to visit me at NEDA...sometime maybe late last year or early this year, to pay me a visit." Neri said he had three meetings with Abalos, during which the ZTE bid for the NBN project was raised. These included a meeting at the NEDA office, another over a golf game, and the third at a lunch meeting hosted by the Chinese embassy at a Makati hotel. Abalos attended the luncheon meeting with Neri at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati, which was also attended by officials of the Chinese embassy and ZTE Corporation. "I cannot recall what we discussed... I have a very poor memory.. I believe we had a lunch meeting arranged by the Chinese embassy, one or two officials of the Chinese embassy, and the ZTE, and Chairman Abalos was there." "I left early... the ZTE officials were heavy smokers," Neri said. "Then we had a golf game. we had a very nice golf game. The Chairman was very charming. " While they were riding in a golf cart at the Wack-Wack Country Club in Mandaluyong, Neri recalled his conversations with Abalos. "There was something that he (Abalos) said that surprised me. 'Sec, may 200 ka dito... medyo nabigla ako but since he was our host I kept quiet," Neri said. "I was too shocked to say anything," Neri said. After the golf game, Neri said, "I informed my NEDA staff that they should be careful in assessing this project...be careful with the costing." Neri said he informed his deputies at the NEDA about his conversation with Abalos and they could confirm his report about the alleged bribe attempt. After the golf game, Neri said he sat down at the golf club for "a technical presentation" on the NBN project by ZTE officials. On questioning by opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson if he was shocked because he thought he was being offered a bribe, Neri said, "I was shocked because I am not used to being offered... at medyo malaki." Neri said he told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo about the apparent bribe offer, and she told him, "Huwag mong tanggapin." Thereafter, Neri said he was told that the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission had been told to investigate the incident but that he has not heard about results of the probe. Pressed if the figure "200" was mentioned by Abalos in relation to the ZTE deal, Neri replied: "I guess since we were discussing the ZTE project... sa golf you discuss things occasionally... matters you need to discuss, mga ganun." Asked if his transfer from the NEDA to the Commission on Higher Education could have been prompted by his questions about the NBN project, Neri said, "frankly your Honor, it didn't occur to me." Neri said was told by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita that the President that "she needed me there... they said I had unique talents that could help address the problems." "Usapan po namin I would go back to NEDA, sabi niya (Ermita) one year, sabi ko six months," Neri said. - GMANews.TV