Bishop appeals to Neri’s conscience

BY GERARD NAVAL

CALOOCAN Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee, yesterday called on Higher Education chair Romulo Neri to ponder on his role to the country and act according to the dictates of his conscience.

In a phone interview, Iñiguez said although it is but proper to respect the decision of the Supreme Court upholding Neri’s petition to invoke executive privilege in the Senate’s ZTE inquiry, it is still up to Neri if he will use it or not.

Last Tuesday, the tribunal, by a vote of 9 to 6, ruled that Neri correctly invoked executive privilege in refusing questions of the senators regarding his conversation with President Arroyo on the P200 million bribe attempt on him by then Elections chair Benjamin Abalos in exchange for his approval of the project proposal of China’s ZTE Corp. for the national broadband network project.

Iñiguez said he supports the plan of some senators to insist on inviting Neri at the resumption of the broadband inquiry.

"If they are still keen on pursuing to find the truth in their investigation, tama siguro na imbitahin pa (Neri) siya. Baka naman may iba pang mga questions na magiging daan din para makita ang hinahanap nating katotohanan," Iñiguez said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said Neri can still be invited in the Senate inquiry and has to answer questions from senators other than the three questions as ordered by the Supreme Court.

These are whether the President followed up the NBN-ZTE project with Neri; whether Neri was dictated to prioritize the NBN-ZTE project, and whether the President told him to go ahead and approve the project after being told about the alleged bribe by Abalos.

Iñiguez said it may be good to seriously look into the dissenting opinions on the ruling.

He said based on the explanation that the bishops received from constitutional experts, a government official cannot use the privilege to hide a crime.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, one of those who gave a dissenting opinion, has said that Neri discussed bribery issues with Arroyo, thus making it a possible crime that could be hidden with the invocation of executive privilege.

Senate minority leader Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel said "it may be difficult but not impossible" to convince the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling.

Pimentel said the high court’s ruling on the case was based on a number of erroneous premises as he expressed the hope that the tribunal’s members who ruled in favor of Neri’s petition will see this when the Senate files its motion for reconsideration.

"The filing of a motion for reconsideration is not only prudent. I think it is necessary for purposes of historical records. I think it is important that majority of the justices, nine of them, will have to be confronted with the facts as we see them," he told the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.

He said the tribunal erred when it faulted the Senate for allegedly failing to publish its in-house rules on investigation.

Pimentel said these rules have been published in national newspapers and can be found in the Senate’s website. But since the Senate is a continuing body, he said there is no need to republish them every time a new set of 12 senators is elected into office.

"The Senate does not end with the termination of every congressional term. Unlike the House of Representatives whose term ends completely every three years, the Senate is a continuing body," he explained.

The Senate tri-panel is scheduled to resume the inquiry on April 2 or April 8.

CALL DE LA TORRE

ZTE witness Dante Madriaga called on the Senate to subpoena retired Gen. Quirino de la Torre so he can shed light on the "commissions" in the broadband contract.

Madriaga said senators are reluctant to summon De la Torre due to his fragile health. De la Torre is bed-ridden due to cancer.

Madriaga singled out Lacson as primarily opposed to summoning or issuing a subpoena against De la Torre.

Lacson had meetings with De la Torre during the time that the former was prodding cable executive Leo San Miguel to testify.

Madriaga said De la Torre could testify either through phone patch or a video to be administered by the technical working group of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which is leading the investigation.

Madriaga had told senators that De la Torre and Ruben Reyes are protecting the interests of Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and President Arroyo in the NBN-ZTE contract.

He said De la Torre and Reyes have been inseparable since the 2004 elections where he said they oversaw cheating operations in Mindanao for the administration.

"Si Ruben ang bagman galing kay FG, si Torch (De la Torre) ang taga-tanggap (ng pera) para distribute niya sa pulis at military," he said. – With Dennis Gadil

First:	Acts 4:1-12
Resp:	Psalm 118:1-2,4,22-27
Gospel:	John 21:1-14

Today's Reflection on the Mass

First: Acts 3:11-26
Resp: Psalm 8:2,5-9
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48

Today's Reflection on the Mass

'Neri not off the hook yet'

Ping: More questions than 3 barred by tribunal

BY DENNIS GADIL

SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said former Planning Secretary Romulo Neri cannot evade the NBN-ZTE broadband inquiry as there was nothing in the Supreme Court's decision Tuesday which says he could not be summoned again by the Senate.

"Kailangan sagutin niya 'yung mga ibang tanong kasi tatlo lang naman 'yung hindi puwedeng talakayin kapag humarap siya," Lacson said.

The high court, by a vote of 9-6, ruled that Neri correctly invoked executive privilege when
senators asked three questions about his conversations with President Arroyo on the broadband deal.

The questions were: whether the President followed up the NBN-ZTE project with Neri; whether Neri was told to prioritize the NBN-ZTE project; and, whether the President told him to go ahead and approve the project after being told about the alleged bribe by then Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Lacson said the SC decision does not discourage the Senate from inviting Cabinet officials and asking them about alleged irregularities in government.

"Hindi nila (magistrates) pwede turuan ang Senado. Alam nilang co-equal branch ng gobyerno ito, so di pwede," Lacson said.

He said the Senate tri-committee will proceed with the ZTE inquiry on April 2.

Last September, Neri informed senators he told the President that Abalos offered him P200 million in exchange for NEDA approval the $329 million NBN-ZTE deal as a loan, not under the BOT scheme as originally planned.

But when asked to elaborate, Neri invoked executive privilege, saying his conversation with Arroyo was a privileged communication.

The SC ruled that presidential communications are considered "presumptively privileged," and founded on the President's generalized interest in confidentiality.

The ruling said Congress must not require the executive to state the reasons for invoking executive privilege as a means to compel disclosure of the information which the privilege is meant to protect.

Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Leonardo Quisumbing, Renato Corona, Dante Tinga, Minita Chico-Nazario, Presbitero Velasco, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Ruben Reyes and Arturo Brion concurred.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno and Associate Justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Adolfo Azcuna and Antonio Carpio dissented.

Puno, in his 120-page dissenting opinion, said the Senate committees had good reasons to cite Neri for contempt for failing to appear in the Nov. 20, 2007 hearing, and that there was no basis for either petitioner or the Executive Secretary (Eduardo Ermita) to assume that the petitioner's further testimony will be limited only on the three disputed questions.

A FUTILE EXERCISE

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said a motion for reconsideration could be a possibility, noting that Puno sided with the Senate's position.

But Lacson said it would be futile to file a motion for reconsideration. "Bihira nakakapagpalit ng decision ang SC sa MR. Bihirang bihira mangyari."

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the national defense and security panel, said the Supreme Court ruling could be considered a big blow on the principle of transparency in government.

"Without transparency, there can be no check and balance. Without check and balance, there can be no democracy in this country," he said.

Biazon said there must be a clarification so the Supreme Court ruling "will not provide a shield for wrongdoings by government officials."

He said points to be clarified are: who may invoke executive privilege in hearings being conducted by the Legislature; the procedures on invoking the executive privilege; and if the SC ruling gives blanket authority for any member of the Executive to invoke executive privilege.

ESSENCE OF THE TRUTH

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the SC decision cannot salvage the credibility of the First Couple.

"Whatever Neri would say, it will not change the essence of the truth of how crooked and corrupt is the (NBN) deal," said the former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Cruz said Neri's insistence on invoking executive privilege "means he knows something more that is more incriminating. (Remember) he was quoted in the past having said 'she is evil.' He just said he did not remember (saying it)."

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, said it is premature for the Arroyo administration to gloat over the ruling of the SC.

"They are wrong it they believe that the decision will dampen interest in the ZTE scandal. On the contrary, the questions remain unanswered, and the people will look for answers," he said.
Malacañang insisted that several matters pertaining to ZTE deal are covered by executive privilege.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the decision would also help Neri decide on whether he should attend the next Senate hearing or not.

He said he is certain that Neri would still consult Malacañang on attending the hearings. - With Gerard Naval, Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor

Melo takes oath, vows to quit if…

NEW Comelec chairman Jose Melo had barely warmed his seat when he vowed yesterday to quit if the national elections in 2010 are not credible and honest.

Melo, a former Supreme Court justice, made the statement after he was sworn in yesterday by Commissioner Romeo Brawner, acting Comelec chair, at the Comelec head office in Intramuros, Manila.

Melo said his stint in the Comelec will be all about the success of the 2010 elections.

He batted for the computerization of the 2010 elections but "if not, we should at least have peaceful, credible and honest elections."

Melo said he believes the Comelec would regain the people’s trust in the light of its involvement in the "Hello Garci" scandal, the anomalous purchase of the automated machines and the electoral fraud in Maguindanao in 2007.

"The Comelec has good people. Leadership counts a lot. I just hope to be an example for them to follow," he said.

He said he would adopt a hands-off stand on the re-opening the "Hello Garci" case.

"Personally, I don’t think the Comelec should be handling this matter. It also cannot be given to Congress because it could be politicized. Rather, there should be an independent commission that will handle it that will be given the proper funding and proper power to call witnesses," he said.

Melo was first appointed by President Arroyo last January to replace Benjamin Abalos Sr., who resigned last October over allegations of his involvement in the $329 million NBN-ZTE broadband scandal.

Melo was issued an interim appointment by Malacañang last Monday when his appointment was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments when Congress went on Lenten break last March 12. Congress resumes sessions on April 21.

Under the 1987 Constitution, interim appointments are deemed effective until the next adjournment of Congress.

Melo and Carlos Medina, a lawyer, were the only two names nominated by civil society groups to the search panel created by Malacañang.

Melo had said he would not assume his new post until confirmation the CA as Congress was still in session at the time.

But he said he decided to take over the chairmanship when Wynne Asdala, officer-in-charge of the Law Department, died Monday in an ambush as he stepped out of a fast food outlet in Intramuros.

"Naramdaman ko nung mabalitaan ko iyon (Asdala murder) na para akong ama na may nangyayari sa bahay at walang ginagawa," he said.

"Hindi natin ito hinangad pero we must not evade when duty calls. I guess our country is probably not yet through with me," he said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Melo should not have assumed his post pending confirmation.

Pimentel said he was told that the CA could not act on Melo’s appointment as he lacked supporting documents. – Gerard Naval and Dennis Gadil

First:	Acts 3:1-10
Resp:	Psalm 105:1-4,6-9
Gospel:	Luke 24:13-35

Today's Reflection on the Mass

Cory stricken with cancer

‘Pray for our mother’s recovery’

FORMER President Corazon Aquino is suffering from colon cancer, her family said yesterday.

The 75-year-old icon of People Power was diagnosed with the disease two weeks ago, her daughter Kris said in an emotional announcement aired over national television.

Aquino was last seen in public in the Easter mass at the St. Joseph’s College in Quezon City. She was seated beside Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, the star witness in the Senate hearings on the NBN-ZTE broadband deal, as in practically all Masses for the truth about the corruption scandal which have been held for the last two months in Metro Manila

"Our mother suffered from an episode of high blood pressure and difficulty in breathing followed by fever during the week in between Christmas and New Year. Since that time, we became concerned because of her consistent cough, loss of appetite and noticeable weight loss," a family statement read by Kris said.

Kris was joined by her brother Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in making the announcement.

"Our mom wanted to know what was wrong with her, and with her family by her side, she submitted herself to a check-up and several tests. The results showed that our mother is suffering from cancer of the colon," the statement said.

The family gave no additional details on Aquino’s condition and requested that her privacy be respected.

The family asked for prayers for her recovery.

Malacañang said it was saddened by the news.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of President Aquino’s illness and wish to convey our heartfelt prayers and sincerest wishes for her complete healing. We know that with her strength and total trust in God, as well as the love and support of everyone around her, she will be able to surmount this as she has conquered all the other trials in her life," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Bunye said Malacañang joins the country in praying for the speedy recovery of the former president.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her loved ones. In times such as these, though these difficulties may be hard to face, let us place our faith in God for his continued blessings and complete trust in his mercy and kindness," he said.

"I’m sure that the President will be one with us in praying for her speedy recovery," he said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said: "I’m very sorry. We just have to pray that it’s not very, very serious."

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez, a medical doctor, said colon cancer is curable, depending on what stage it is and the kind of treatment that the former president could take.

Senate President Manuel Villar said: "We wish her speedy recovery. Nawa’y makahanap ng mabilis na lunas ang mga doctor ni Pangulong Cory."

He said he was saddened, noting that Ms. Aquino has been active in the search for the truth on the NBN-ZTE contract.

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan said his family joins the nation in praying for Aquino’s "complete healing."

"We also pray for strength and courage for the Aquino family as they face this difficult trial," said Pangilinan, a party mate of Sen. Aquino in the Liberal Party.

Sen. Francis Escudero said: "I wish her well and I hope and pray that she recovers from it."

"I join her loved ones and those who care for her, and ask others as well in praying for her immediate healing and a fast recovery," Escudero said.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said the former president has always been an inspiration in fighting corruption.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said he hopes the "angels of truth would guide the former president in her darkest hours and lead her to full recovery."

The rest of the Aquino family statement:

"Our mother has always believed in being up-front. Over and above anything else, she’s a woman who has lived her entire life entrusting everything to the Lord, and she has always been a woman of great faith.

"Ang pamilya po namin ay kagaya lamang ng sa inyo. Mahal na mahal namin ang nanay namin at handa kaming magbigay ng suporta, lakas, at pagkalinga sa oras ng kanyang matinding pagsubok.

"Alam po namin na ang buhay ng aming pamilya ay bahagi na ng kasaysayan ng ating bayan. Desisyon po ng nanay namin na mag-release kami ng statement, para maunawaan ng lahat ang kanyang kasalukuyang kalagayan. Nakikiusap po kami na sana maintindihan ninyo na kailangan ng aming ina, kagaya ng lahat ng pasyenteng nagpapagaling, ng panahon ng katahimikan.

"It’s a very difficult time for our family, most especially for our mother. We respectfully ask that she be accorded her privacy.

"Our mom remains a believer in the power of prayer. We ask for your compassion and for your prayers for our mother’s recovery."

Aquino was president from 1986 to 1992.

The tumultuous events of those weeks in 1986, which culminated when up to a million people waving rosaries and flowers stopped tanks advancing towards Army rebels, became a fairy-tale revolution that gripped the world.

When former President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda fled, it set a precedent for dissidents everywhere, from South Africa to South America to Pakistan. Aquino was hailed a modern-day Joan of Arc.

But she was a reluctant leader at the start, shedding the housewife’s apron only after her husband Benigno was assassinated in 1983 at the Manila international airport on his return from exile in the United States.

Born on January 25, 1933 into one of the country’s richest families, the Cojuangcos, Aquino grew up in a world of wealth and politics, being the daughter of three-time congressman Jose Cojuangco Sr.

Accusing Marcos of ordering the murder, Aquino led protest marches, but was hesitant when snap elections were called in 1986.

"What on earth do I know about being president?" she said before taking up the challenge to run against Marcos.

The specter of army intervention haunted her entire rule.

Natural disasters, including Mount Pinatubo’s huge volcanic eruption in 1991, severely battered the economy.

A devout Catholic, she often turned to her faith to steer her through difficult times.

"There was never any moment that I doubted God would help ... If it was time to die, so be it," she said when rebel soldiers attacked Malacañang in 1987, the first in five coup attempts against her.

She was involved in the protests that brought an end to the presidency of Joseph Estrada in 2001, and has supported the campaign to remove Arroyo.

Last month, she addressed tens of thousands of people gathered in Makati to demand that Arroyo resign.

"I thought my work was done because I am already old," Aquino said, speaking from a makeshift stage in front of a statue of her husband.

"But this is what the times ask for, for us to unite so that the deceit will end and we will find out the truth," she said. – Regina Bengco, Dennis Gadil, JP Lopez and Reuters

First:	Acts 2:14,22-33
Resp:	Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22
Gospel:	John 20:11-18

Today's Reflection on the Mass

Price spiral triggers call for opening of oil firms' books

BY DENNIS GADIL

SENATE President Manuel Villar yesterday called anew for the opening of books of giant oil companies in the country to check if their latest price increases were justified.

A price hike of 50 centavos was implemented Saturday by the "Big Three" - Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines (formerly Caltex) and Petron Corp. - bringing the cost of gasoline to an average of P46.65 per liter, diesel to P35.91 to P40 per liter, and kerosene to P41.30 to P45.80 per liter.

The latest round of 50-centavo increases was the fourth in four consecutive weeks.

World oil prices have reached the record level of $111 a barrel but went down to $100 a barrel in the past days.

Militant transport groups, noting the new pump prices are the highest in the country's history, said they would call for protest actions.

Villar said the energy department is authorized by law to look into the books of oil players to determine the formula used by oil firms in implementing price increases. But he said government seems to have forgotten to do this.

He pushed for the amendment of the oil deregulation law "on that aspect na mabigyan ng mas maraming karapatan ang gobyerno na buksan ang mga libro ng oil companies."

He said the Bureau of Internal Revenue should be brought in if the energy department, which is empowered by law to guard the price-setting activities of oil companies, continues to avoid its duties.

Villar said the amended law should empower the President to order the BIR to look into the financial statements of oil companies.

Villar, an accountant by profession, said oil companies should charge consumers the "net" of increase in cost of oil per barrel in the world as against the current dollar exchange rate.

He said the relatively strong peso should have at least offset the cost incurred by oil firms due to rising world crude prices.

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) pressed for a moratorium on oil price hikes, and scrapping of the 12 percent value-added tax on oil.

George San Mateo, Piston secretary general, said the three major oil firms have in the last 10 years been implementing a "cartelized and manipulative pricing scheme to justify its frequent oil price increases. - With Randy Nobleza

Palace hit for blocking baseline bill

SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday assailed Malacañang for blocking the approval of House Bill 3216 which would define the country's archipelagic map.

"It is incumbent upon us to protect and assert our territorial rights over the seas around us, and even to the extent of 200 nautical miles from the edge of our seas as our exclusive economic zone," he said.

Under HB 3216, the country's archipelagic baselines would include the Kalayaan Island Group or Spratly islands and Scarborough Shoal.

Malacañang asked for the postponement of the passage of the bill and for its re-commitment to the House committee on foreign affairs to incorporate amendments proposed by the Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs under the Office of the President.

The Palace's move came after Beijing sent a note to Manila that putting "the Scarborough Shoal and some other Nansha (Spratly) reefs and islands inside the baseline of the Philippines will not be conducive to stability. (and will) also disturb China-Philippine cooperation in the area."

Pimentel said Congress and the executive branch should adopt a common position on the issue of the urgent legislation to protect its territorial right over the disputed Kalayaan Island Group.

He said the bill should be prioritized by the Senate to complement a similar undertaking by the House and to beat the May 2009 deadline set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Pimentel said the admission of Philippine National Oil Co. president Antonio Cailao in a published statement that the entire 142,886-square kilometer area covered by the 2005 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in the South China Sea among the Philippines, China and Vietnam "is all within Philippine territory" makes it more imperative for the Philippines to define its archipelagic baselines.

"If what he (Cailao) said is true, all the more we should push for a definition of our territory whatever the opinion of other countries may be," Pimentel said.

He said Congress and Malacañang should resolve their differences over the configuration of the Philippine archipelagic map without in any way creating the impression that the country's legal and historic claim to the Kalayaan Island Group may be compromised or weakened.

He said it would be ridiculous for the Philippines not to include the Kalayaan Island Group within its archipelagic baselines because this is being made precisely in pursuit of its rights as an archipelagic state under UNCLOS. - Dennis Gadil

First:	Acts 2:14,22-33
Resp:	Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11
Gospel:	Matthew 28:8-15

Today's Reflection on the Mass

First:	Acts 10:34,37-43
Resp:	Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23
Second:	Colossians 3:1-4
Gospel:	John 20:1-9

Today's Reflection on the Mass

Villar seeks partial report on NBN probe

BY DENNIS GADIL

SENATE President Manuel Villar yesterday called on the Senate joint panel investigating the $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband deal to release a partial committee report to placate their "impatient" colleagues.

Villar said the partial report would divulge the Senate tri-panel’s "initial findings" and inform the committee members of its plans in the next hearings.

Villar said the Blue Ribbon and trade and defense committees could issue the partial report before the Supreme Court’s decision on the petition of former Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on the issue of executive privilege.

The high court is expected to come out with a ruling before the end of the month.

Neri invoked executive privilege when he refused last September to tell senators about his conversations with President Arroyo over the bribery attempt by then Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan and pro-administration senators led by Sen. Joker Arroyo have called for the closure of the probe and the issuance of a report.

But Blue Ribbon chair Alan Peter Cayetano has said the Senate tri-panel could not issue a preliminary report because vital information has yet to come out and they know that the Palace keeps most of it.

Villar said he has authorized the Blue Ribbon panel to hold hearings even during their one-month break. Cayetano has said the tri-panel is eyeing two more hearings.

Villar said other major standing committees of the Senate are also authorized to conduct hearings during the one-month Senate break.

Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio said he is in favor of waiving executive privilege if only to allow those with direct knowledge or participation in the NBN deal to testify for the truth to come out.

"What is really the truth? What really happened? Ito ang gustong malaman ng ating mga kababayan," Panlilio said in an interview at the soft opening of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Panlilio said executive privilege should not be open to "abuse" which he said includes political purposes or agenda.

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez, in an interview at the SCTEX soft opening, denied that Neri is being prevented from testifying by the President. – With Jocelyn Montemayor

First:	Isaiah 50:4-9
Resp:	Psalm 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34
Gospel:	Matthew 26:14-25

Today's Reflection on the Mass

Halve rice portions, restaurants asked

AGRICULTURE Secretary Arthur Yap yesterday asked fast-food outlets to offer half portions of rice to discourage wastage as government scrambles to boost rice supplies.

"We would like to exercise all efforts at ensuring the Philippines rice stocks continue to be maintained at a manageable level to ensure that the food security of the country will be maintained," he said.

"I'm asking fast-food restaurants to give their customers an option to order half a cup of rice because right now, if you do a survey of all the fast-food joints, you will notice a fraction of them always have excess rice. People don't really finish their rice," he added.

The Philippines, one of the world's biggest importers of rice, is struggling to source supplies of up to 1.8 million tons this year as prices sky rocket due to rising demand and tight inventories around the globe.

Yap said the Philippines, where rising harvests cannot keep pace with population growth, was not facing a rice shortage but people should conserve the staple.

The DA said if Filipinos could be more prudent in rice consumption, imports could go down by 37 percent to 1.17 million tons compared to last year's import requirement of 1.87 million tons.

Manila has failed in three consecutive auctions to secure the full volume of rice it needs and is hoping to tap an emergency regional rice fund to help with a potential shortfall.

Thailand has committed to set aside 15,000 tons of rice for the Philippines under the East Asia Emergency Rice Reserve and officials have also contacted Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

Results for last week's auction for 550,000 tons of rice, which only attracted 355,500 tons of bids, are expected this week.

Manila is also looking to re-tender to buy up to 100,000 tons of rice from the United States after receiving only one bid last week. It is buying the US rice using $65 million in credit guarantees from the US Agriculture Department.

Last month, President Arroyo went outside normal commercial channels to ask Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to guarantee a supply of up to 1.5 million tons of rice, signalling rising nervousness about tight supply.

Hanoi, however, said it could only guarantee 1 million tons of rice, which already includes a volume of around 700,000 tons, which Vietnamese traders had already agreed to supply in auctions in December and January.

Vietnam sold nearly 1.4 million tons of rice to the Philippines last year.

A non-government organization said Yap should focus his attention more on the price spikes of the staple instead of turning to imports.

Jessica Reyes Cantos, lead convenor of Rice Watch and Action Network (R1), said Yap should instead investigate the abnormal increase in the local rice prices when the harvest season started last January although the lean months are usually in July to September.

"Yap should really start to learn the ropes of running an agriculture portfolio with a coherent food policy based on food self-sufficiency. We challenge him to sit down for an honest-to-goodness discussion on the rice master plan instead of resorting to knee-jerk reactions," Cantos said.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II raised the alarm on a looming rice crisis as global supply tightens.

"According to DA (Department of Agriculture) and NFA (National Food Authority), we will be anticipating a deficit supply of rice of about two months' worth of consumption," he said.

He said the country is safe until October this year, but has to scamper for rice in November, when the shortfall will be strongly felt.

Roxas said the country could not continue to depend on imports from India or China since both countries will have to hedge against the global rice shortage.

"We project that in the future this problem will only get worse. Because India and China won't be sending rice exports here, we must fend for ourselves," he said.

Roxas proposed that government institute new programs for agriculture and expedite the release of calamity fund to local government units to source their own rice supply.

"They said the hybrid rice has been a success but why do we have a shortage in production?" he said.

Roxas favors relaxing the tariff on rice imports, which stands at 40 percent. But he said this would only partially resolve the problem.

Senate President Manuel Villar said he believes government is partly to blame for the "rice crisis" as it failed to curb corruption in the agriculture sector, particularly in dispensing funds for fertilizers.

Villar also said authorities should also look into the alleged rice cartels that control the distribution of rice in the market. - Job Realubit, Dennis Gadil and Reuters

Mass Readings for Today

First:	Isaiah 49:1-6
Resp:	Psalm 71:1-6,15,17
Gospel:	John 13:21-33,36-38

• Today's Reflection on the Mass

Cayetano: A long way from ending NBN probe

BY DENNIS GADIL

THE joint Senate panel looking into the anomalous $329 million broadband deal with China's ZTE Corp. is a long way from wrapping up its investigation.

"There is still vital information that senators know exists but has not come out on record. Thus, it wouldn't be prudent to come out with a partial report just yet," Blue Ribbon chair Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said.

But he said: "Any senator can submit his or her recommendation or make a partial report and the committee will consider it."

The other committees are trade and commerce chaired by Sen. Mar Roxas and defense and national security chaired by Sen. Rodolfo Biazon.

Cayetano was reacting to a proposal of majority leader Francis Pangilinan for the Senate joint panel to wrap up the probe and issue its initial recommendation.

Pangilinan has said that after 12 televised public hearings and a slew of witnesses, the joint panel should now be ready with its report.

"I believe we have gathered sufficient findings to merit a preliminary report from the Blue Ribbon committee," he said.

Cayetano stressed the issue is not whether the Senate probe body has received enough information but "it's a question of obligation to bring out the whole truth about the deal."

"This is the only way the committees can do its twin task of making effective recommendation and inform the public of matters of public interest," he said.

He said it is also "deceiving" to compare time spent on investigations and time spent on legislation, which are two different things.

He said the joint Senate panel is looking into holding two more hearings before finally wrapping up its investigation.

He said members of the joint Senate panel also know that most of the information has yet to come out from Malacañang, which he said continues to stonewall on the matter.

"The committee has received much information on the deal, the process, the contract and other details, on the necessity of the project, on system on foreign loans, etc," he said.

Cayetano said the Senate joint panel had thought of issuing a report on the abduction of ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada until the police and airport officials "started not to cooperate."

He said there are NBN-ZTE-related issues still pending before the Supreme Court, which only proves that the Senate joint investigation is far from over.

He said these are the petition of former Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on executive privilege and their petition on the disclosure of the minutes of the meeting of the Inter-Coordinating Committee of the National Economic Development Authority on NBN-ZTE deal approval.

"These cases have direct impact on the investigation. And the mere fact that the officials of the executive department are not cooperating shows they don't want the public to know the whole truth or at least scrutinize their official acts," he said.

Mass Readings for Today

First:	Isaiah 42:1-7
Resp:	Psalm 27:1-3,13-14
Gospel:	John 12:1-11

• Today's Reflection on the Mass

Biazon seeks a stop to Section 20 'abuse'

SEN. Rodolfo Biazon yesterday sought to "moderate" the privilege to invoke Section 20 of the Commission on Appointments (CA) rules which allow suspension, even without a stated reason, of confirmation proceedings on any appointee.

"Although this is a check and balance provision that must continue to operate, I believe that it is subject to abuse as can be gleaned with what happened last Wednesday," Biazon said.

"It is simply not fair that the careers of our officers in the AFP as well as the functioning of Cabinet officials and officers of the foreign service will be stalled with the unjustifiable invocation of this rule," he said.

Biazon said the CA rules must be changed to shield Palace appointees from being unfairly victimized by senators "with hidden agenda."

He said Section 20 should only be invoked on individual nominees and not to a batch of nominees.

Biazon said any CA member should explain invoking the rule.

The use of Section 20 is non-debatable and does not oblige the movant to give an explanation.

The proposed changes were prompted after Sen. Ma. Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal single-handedly prevented the CA from affirming the appointments of 24 officers of the AFP, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Comelec Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon, whose confirmation had been endorsed for plenary approval last Wednesday.

Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, was among those who criticized the invocation of Section 20 by Madrigal, and he even appealed to her to withdraw its use, citing the families and peers of the AFP officers who were expecting of the confirmation.

Sen. Richard Gordon slammed the "dastardly" invocation of Section 20.

"Section 20 is rarely used. It is a weapon of the Senate, by the members of the Congress who are sitting as the Commission on Appointments - a constitutional body. When we use this weapon, it behooves the individual who wields this weapon to explain to everyone why it is being used," he said.

He said that when they were reviewing the fitness and qualification of each senior officer of the AFP, Madrigal did not question all the officers.

"Her invocation of Section 20, at this point, was unjust," Gordon said.

Rep. Rodolfo Plaza (Agusan del Sur), a member of the House contingent in the CA, said Madrigal was just playing dumb so she could have an excuse to get media attention by picking a fight with other CA members.

"Masyado siyang KSP ( kulang sa pansin)," he said. "She is becoming a terrorist in the CA." - Dennis Gadil

'Nagalak si Ma'am'

Ping: "I-know-nothing' witness took a phone call

BY DENNIS GADIL

CONNECT the dots, if you please, or if you will.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said his "surprise" witness, Leo San Miguel, was overheard by members of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) during a break in Tuesday's Senate hearing on the ZTE deal talking to a person he addressed as "Ma'am."

On the other side of town, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that President Arroyo was "elated" by San Miguel's testimony that he knew nothing of supposed kickbacks in connection in the deal.

"Narinig siya ng OSAA, may kausap siyang 'ma'am.' 'Yes ma'am, opo ma'am, ide-deny ko po ma'm,'" Lacson said.

Lacson said he doesn't believe that San Miguel was just talking to his wife or staff.

"Ewan ko, baka asawa niya ang kausap niya pero 'ma'am' ang tawag niya. At madiin ang 'yes ma'm, opo ma'm, ide-deny ko po ma'm,'" Lacson said.

He said the phone call was coursed through lawyer Marcelino Agana IV of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO).

"Nakausap niya si Attorney Agana na siyang nasa PLLO sa Senado. Maya-maya meron siyang kausap sa telepono na 'Ma'am'," he said.

"Lalong tumibay nang makausap si 'Ma'am. Isa lang naman ang 'Ma'am' na ina-address ng ganun," he said.

He said after the call, San Miguel appeared to have further firmed up, denying anything about the supposed kickbacks and commissions that the "Greedy Group" of former elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. were supposed to get.

Agana admitted that he talked to San Miguel Monday night before the ZTE consultant met with Lacson and before the Senate inquiry Tuesday morning.

But Agana said San Miguel only told him that he was going to testify on whatever he was going to be asked.

Agana, who said he was San Miguel's lawyer when the businessman was president of the Philippine Cable Television Association, denied that he tried to influence San Miguel's testimony or that President Arroyo or Malacañang had instructed him to do so.

In his testimony Tuesday, San Miguel said he had no "direct knowledge" of the alleged $41 million in advances that he and other alleged members of the "Greedy Group Plus Plus" were supposed to have received from China's ZTE Corp., which had bagged the $329 million contract.

Lacson was caught by surprise by San Miguel's testimony, saying it was contrary to what was related to him in their previous meetings.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz labeled San Miguel as incredible for "unfathomably" lying before the Senate inquiry.

"I really don't know what happened to him. He is obviously lying because for him to be asked by a senator to undergo a lie detector test is something. The man sounded incredible to many senators," said Cruz, a former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

San Miguel's insistence that he does not know anything about the supposed bribe advances was contrary to the statements of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III and Dante Madriaga, who all said San Miguel was part of the negotiations of the deal.

Cruz said it is evident that "someone powerful" made San Miguel testify the way he did.

"It can only mean two things: either he was threatened or he was convinced not to tell the truth of what he obviously knew so much of," Cruz said.

GOV'T OFFICIALS TOO

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Palace is open to allowing government officials linked to the ZTE deal to undergo a lie detector test.

Ermita said they also welcome the proposal of Sen. Mar Roxas Tuesday night for Lozada, De Venecia, Madriaga and San Miguel to undergo a lie detector test. All except De Venecia have agreed to the proposal.

Ermita denied that Malacañang or the President herself may have had contact with San Miguel or even know him.

He also denied that there are efforts to influence him or any of the other witnesses. - Dennis Gadil, Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor