Press Release
October 25, 2007

ROXAS: THIRD-PARTY EXPERT
NEEDED FOR ZTE DOCUMENTS

Senator Mar Roxas stressed the need for the Senate joint committee investigating the National Broadband Network (NBN) controversy to invite an independent, private-sector based expert so that an "independent assessment" of the project can be made.

Roxas pointed out that the DoTC wrote the Senate blue ribbon committee to request that annexes to the supply contract be tackled only in an executive session and with a ZTE representative present. Annex "A" and Annex "B" specify the design and costs of building the broadband network including software, hardware and equipment.

"In the meantime, while the joint committee is still deciding on whether to accept the confidentiality claim of the DoTC regarding documents submitted by ZTE Corp., the co-chairs agreed to allow for an examination by third-party experts, accompanied by Senate staff, so that we can ascertain if indeed there was overpricing on the $330-million deal," Roxas said.

"We need a third party that has no business interest in the project, in order to get an objective assessment of the records," he said.

"Kapag nakita na ang impormasyong ito, mapipilitan ang ehekutibo na sumagot sa tanong kung bakit nila sinang-ayunan itong mga presyo, bakit nila sinang-ayunan itong kontrata, kahit mukhang dehado ang interes ni Juan de la Cruz," he added.

Roxas however maintained that the documents submitted by ZTE were of public interest, and should be made available to all. "The annexes submitted by ZTE involve taxpayer's money, and I see no reason to keep this information from the people," he said.

"Ang pinakamahalagang dapat malaman ay, naprotektahan ba ng pamahalaan ang interes natin? O kasabwat sila sa overpricing na napakaloob sa Annex "A" at Annex "B" ng supply contract? Kaya mahalagang-mahalga na malaman natin kung ano ang mga presyo at kung ito ba ay naaayon sa totoong presyo ng merkado," Roxas said.

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