Senator: Madriaga still needs to undergo ‘credibility test’ - report

A former consultant of China's ZTE Corp. who linked the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to the controversial $329.48-million national broadband network (NBN) deal will have to undergo "credibility tests" before a Senate technical group. Radio dzBB reported Wednesday that Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano said they need to establish if Dante Madriaga can be considered a "credible" witness in the Senate investigation into the controversy. Madriaga was a "walk-in" witness who said ZTE Corp. paid some $41 million in advances for the NBN deal to push through, with $10 million allegedly going to the First Couple. Cayetano, however, said they need to get more details from Madriaga, including "places, dates and circumstances" of the supposed payoffs and "negotiations." He said he has specifically instructed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee technical working group (TWG) to find out what parts of Madriaga's claims are hearsay. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who "endorsed" Madriaga to the Senate during its hearing on the ZTE mess Tuesday, said he finds Madriaga credible but added some of his claims need corroboration. "As far as I'm concerned, (he's) very credible. Walang bumabangga. Napakaraming nagtatanong di nagde-deviate (As far as I'm concerned he's very credible. His testimonies do not appear to deviate from the testimonies of other witnesses)," Lacson said after the hearing Tuesday night. On the other hand, civil society groups said the "jury is still out" on whether Madriaga can be considered a credible witness. "At this point in time di pa masyadong interpellate ng senador, the jury is still out on him. It's not that we don't believe him pero kailangan mas may corroboration. We really have to make sure everything he is saying is confirmed (At this point the senators have not thoroughly grilled him. The jury is still out on him. It's not that we don't believe him, but his statements need to be corroborated. We have to make sure everything he is saying is confirmed)," Leah Navarro, executive director of the Black and White Movement, said on dwIZ radio Wednesday. - GMANews.TV