Press Release
September 4, 2008

ROXAS ON SC'S EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE RULING: OUR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH IS FAR FROM OVER

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said he would push on to find out the truth about the National Broadband Network project, even as the Supreme Court affirmed NEDA Chief Romulo Neri's claim of executive privilege.

"We respect the Supreme Court's final resolution on executive privilege in Romy Neri's case, although we still maintain that executive privilege should only cover issues that threaten national security, diplomatic relations and peace and order. Executive privilege should not apply to projects such as the NBN-ZTE contract, or other matters where graft and corruption are alleged," he said.

"Nagdesisyon ang Korte Suprema, at kailangan natin itong tanggapin. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nito na nakalusot na si Neri at ang iba pang opisyal na kasangkot sa maanomalyang proyektong ito. Tuloy nating ipaglalaban ang katotohanan hindi lang sa korte kundi sa Senado rin," he said.

He noted that there was also still a pending case he had filed together with Senator Noynoy Aquino, to compel the government to release NEDA documents on the NBN deal.

"We are also still awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on the government's claim of executive privilege over the NEDA documents pertaining to the NBN project. These documents have always been open for all to see, and rightly so, because they are of public interest and relate to projects and programs paid for by the public," he said.

"Noong Oktubre pa natin inihain ito, at inaabangan natin ang hatol ng Korte Suprema dito sa isyu ng NEDA documents. Hindi ito maaaring manatiling lihim kung talagang nais nating matunton ang katotohanan sa likod nito," he said.

The Senate probe, he added, was close to wrapping up, with Roxas and national defense committee chairman Senator Rodolfo Biazon awaiting blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's decision on whether to hold another hearing or to release the joint committee report on the investigation.

"Our search for the truth on this matter is far from over. We will continue to exhaust all legal resources to get some accountability on this anomalous deal," he said.

News Latest News Feed