Amongst the officials of this current dispensation, Romulo Neri, chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and formerly director-general of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) had said something that is close to a confirmation that the NBN-ZTE deal is rotten. In one interview, Neri recounted that Benjamin Abalos approached him, urging him to approve the deal (when he was still NEDA head). Abalos tried to soften him via a 200-million peso bribe. Read the entire story on Newsbreak.
What makes his story credible?
* He was moved to CHED two days after informing Gloria Arroyo of the bribe attempt.
* During the second day of Senate hearings on the deal, almost the entire Arroyo Cabinet was in the Senate; Neri was missing.
* Now, Neri is set to testify this Wednesday, but this early, Arroyo is readying CPR – yes, the much-hated calibrated, preemptive response. Executive Order 464 is not going to be the excuse this time, since Leandro Mendoza et al went to the Senate anyway. CPR is a logical choice. CPR in this case is asking Neri to accompany Arroyo to UN Tuesday night.
All eyes are now on Romulo Neri. Whether he would be the second envelop, or his revelation would lead to Arroyo losing power (Ricky Carandang says this is highly unlikely) – we cannot say. However, based on how the Arroyo regime is reacting, he has some bombs to drop.
Will he blink? Neri seems to be the kind of person who is susceptible to threats – he is a light weight who could be pushed around. At least, when he does blink, the Filipino people would know why. And the Arroyo regime has no one to blame but itself if the Filipino people thinks that way.
I would.
“Abalos tried to soften him via a 200-million peso bribe.”
Neri passed the bribe test but, certainly, all witnesses and would-be witnesses won’t be able to harden up on the government’s “soft-touch” policy. Remember the Rashma Hali affair?
Mr. Romulo L. Neri will blink…
Hi, Arthur, probably I won’t. I’m so impulsive and hardheaded when it comes to things like these.
Hi, Baycas, my fear is the same.
Advice to Mr Neri
If your captain can’t decide whether to steer the ship away from the eye of the storm and the ship will be pooped anytime, better watch out. You may be forced to abandon ship – not good trying to stand by your captain by being so stubbornly obedient, difficult to save a ship that has three sheets to the wind.
Before that happens Ex-Os are allowed to take a stand – either to assume command and control or failing that, to go down with the captain and the ship.
Minor heroes die … and are forgotten. Truth be told: The Philippines isn’t any better because of them.
Arthur, I suggest you read/watch Pay It Forward.
I am a pessimist from time to time, but in this case, I do not share your pessimism. Truth be told, it is exactly because we chose to live our own lives, ignoring what is happening to our country, which makes this country worse.
The tricky prism not the magnifyer my preferred tool is.