The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter supports the Senate investigation into the NBN-ZTE national broadband deal and is opposing attempts to frustrate the people's right to know the truth, its president Rodolfo Parreño said yesterday.

The IBP Negros Occidental Chapter lauds Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. for coming out with what appears to be confirmatory information that fraud, corruption, and dishonest dealings were part of the negotiations into the national broadband agreement, its statement released to the DAILY STAR by Parreño and lawyer Andres Hagad, said.

The IBP lawyers also support a deeper investigation being proposed by some Senators into the Northrail and Southrail contracts entered into by the executive department with the Chinese government, the statement said.

IBP Negros said it disagrees with the suggestion of Cabinet secretaries and persons identified with the executive department that the Senate cease the investigations because the broadband deal was already cancelled by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Northrail/Southrail contracts are already “done-deals”, and the inquiries are causing divisions among the people.

The truth behind reports of bribery and corruption remain unanswered and they are the sores that have been causing divisions among the people, the IBP Negros said.

“The truth is the issue that the Senate investigation must continue to ferret out, and IBP Negros stands squarely behind the effort to achieve it,” the statement said.

The IBP Negros noted that Cabinet secretaries and Malacañang allies attempted to prevent Lozada from testifying in the Senate, which it called “an illegal attempt to derail the upper chamber from its responsibility to provide a check-and-balance over actions of the executive”.

The attempt, had it succeeded, would have denied all of us the opportunity to determine the truth behind serious allegations of corruption and shenanigans by certain leaders of government, the IBP Negros said.

“The IBP Negros notes with disfavor the persistent attempts of officers identified with President Arroyo and the First Gentleman to frustrate the inquiry,” no one should place obstacles to prevent it from happening, the statement said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez, reacting to groups supporting Lozada and calling for the truth, yesterday said in a text message to the DAILY STAR “We respect their position in support of Mr. Lozada and while the controversy is now being addressed by the proper fora, the legal process would now lead us to the whole truth in order to put closure to this and maintain political and economic stability.”

“Justice should never be based on emotions, but to the required due process that is dictated by the Constitution,” he said.

“We urge our people to respect our legal institutions who will bring justice and closure to this issue,” Golez added.*CPG

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