Press Release
February 28, 2008

Villar: Trojan horse or not, Senate to provide security for Madriaga

Trojan horse or not, walk-in whistleblower Dante Madriaga needs a safe place to stay and the Senate will give him one.

This was the assurance made by Senate President Manny Villar to the former ZTE consultant who, in a Senate testimony, named President Arroyo and her husband as part of the "Greedy Group plus plus" who helped themselves with a $41-million kickback from the aborted China-funded telecommunications deal.

"There will be room in the inn," Villar said, after Madriaga lamented that he and his wife and their seven children can no longer be safe in their modest Paranaque home after he made his explosive expose on Tuesday.

Villar said he has instructed the committees in charge and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to make security arrangements for Madriaga and his family.

The Senate president and Nacionalista Party president explained that the reason why there was no security waiting for Madriaga after he testified in the Senate is that "he was a snap witness so no prior security arrangements were made."

As the Senate anticipates more whistleblowers to come out, "it is important that we show our value for the rare breed of men by taking care of them and placing them out of harm's way so others will have the courage to step forward too," Villar said.

Asked if the Senate is not afraid of taking into protective custody a witness whose testimony has yet to be corroborated, Villar said, "On humanitarian grounds and concern for our witnesses, it is our obligation to take a more cautious position and provide security for Madriaga as the investigation continues."

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