Press Release
March 2, 2009

Gordon: There's enough evidence to come out
with report on NBN-ZTE deal

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said that the Senate blue ribbon committee, which he chairs, has enough evidence to come out with a committee report on the $329-million National Broadband Network-ZTE deal.

Gordon made the statement even as he said that he would be willing to conduct another hearing on the issue if majority of the members of the committee would call for it.

"I think I have enough to make a report. In fact I have finished the first draft and hopefully I could finish the final report before the Senate resumes session on April," he said.

"On the matter of calling for another hearing, I will take it up with the majority. Hindi naman ako nagde-decide kung walang permiso ang majority," he added.

Former blue ribbon panel chairman Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has sent a letter to Gordon asking him to continue the investigation before issuing a committee report. He said that the committee should secure the testimony of former House Speaker Jose De Venecia.

However, Gordon said there is no need to call De Venecia and have him testify before the committee since the panel can secure a copy of his statements during the hearings held at the Lower House.

"We do not need to call him (De Venecia) kasi medyo polluted ang source. Dating magkakaibigan ang mga 'yan na nagka-away-away dahil sa ZTE contract," he said.

"Wala namang madadagdag sa statement niya dahil sinabi na niya yun sa Lower House.. Mahirap naman kung hihintayin natin na matapos ang lahat na magsalita. Mr. De Venecia can always submit documents to us if he wants to," he said.

Gordon accepted the duty of drafting the committee report on the NBN-ZTE deal after Cayetano, his predecessor who headed 12 committee hearings on the issue, declined to take the task.

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