$70M earmarked for Mike Arroyo in ZTE deal, JDV III says

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo told businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III to "back off" because of an alleged $70-million bribe that the former stood to gain from the controversial ZTE deal. This was De Venecia's claim at the Senate hearing into the canceled $329.4-million deal Thursday, citing information allegedly volunteered by business tycoon Enrique "Ricky" Razon. He said he talked to Razon, a close friend of the First Gentleman, in late March about the proposal of his Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) last March. At the time, he said there was no movement from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) or the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on his proposal. "During that time I was advised to talk to Buboy Macapagal, a good friend of mine and a professional businessman to help me in terms of clarifying what the government processes are and whether the BOT (build-operate-transfer) proposal I had was still appropriate. Buboy spent most of his time in Canada, I can call Ricky (Razon) if he wasn't around," de Venecia said. De Venecia met with Razon after the "reconciliatory" meeting in mid-March at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City where Arroyo allegedly told De Venecia to "back off" from pursuing the national broadband network (NBN) project. The First Gentleman apparently served as a backer for resigned elections chair Benjamin Abalos, the alleged broker of the deal with China's ZTE Corp., De Venecia had claimed. Razon allegedly suggested that De Venecia visit the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) office at Port Area in Manila, where he narrated what happened. Razon is chairman and chief executive officer of ICTSI. "Ricky Razon then said, (expletives deleted) kasi yung Abalos na yan. Sinabi pa niya kay Mike meron siyang $70 million dito, di na ito nakalimutan ni Mike (Razon said ... that Abalos told Mike Arroyo he had $70 million and Mike never forgot it)," De Venecia narrated. De Venecia added that, "When I saw the signing [of the ZTE deal] and it showed a $68-million to $69-million increase, I thought that would have made up for the $70 million that was for (Arroyo)," he added. Asked why he was disclosing the information just now, De Venecia said he decided to tell all after a technical working group meeting where he was told the Senate investigation is not only in aid of legislation but also in aid of investigation. De Venecia also said he got calls from Razon on the eve of his first appearance at the Senate, when asked if the Palace tried to "reach out" to him not to testify. He said the House Speaker was invited through Buboy Virata to meet businessman Aboitiz. "The Palace wanted a ceasefire between them and the De Venecias," he said. In a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after the meeting with Aboitiz, the Chief Executive allegedly started screaming at the elder De Venecia. "He (Speaker) stood up and faced Mr Enica Aboitiz and thanked him for inviting him to the dinner and asked to leave ... The President said, 'Joe, Joe please stay," the younger de Venecia said. - GMANews.TV