Acting Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday said he respects the views of the protestors at the rally in Bacolod City on Monday calling on government to bare the truth on the National Broadband Network deal but he believes due process should be granted by allowing hearings on the matter to be concluded.

“We, the elective officials, also are looking for the truth,” Zayco said, as new witnesses made more revelations before the Senate and  former President Corazon Aquino called for President Gloria Arroyo’s resignation.

Lawyer Oliver Lozano also filed another impeachment complaint against the president yesterday.

Lozano filed his complaint on the NBN deal against the President before the House of Representatives for alleged betrayal of public trust.

Zayco said he believes in waiting for the outcome of the Senate hearings on the matter that is also pending before the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman.

“I respect the protestors ventilating their feelings at the rally Monday in the same way that they should respect our position because that’s what makes up democracy,” Zayco said.

Thousands of protestors Monday joined a rally organized by the United Negrenses Yearning for the Truth at the Bacolod public plaza, with some calling for the ouster of the President.

An inter-faith prayer rally for the truth is also set in Bacolod Friday.

“The search for the truth and justice must not be coupled with a political advocacy of resignation,” Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said yesterday.

Golez, who was reacting to call made by former President Corazon Aquino, said Aquino is credited for the current Constitution that provides a solution for searching for the truth through the justice system, not through a resignation call or trial by publicity.

Aquino, speaking before  the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club and PinoyME Foundation, yesterday said Arroyo was clearly no longer in a position to provide strong moral leadership and her resignation would be the least disruptive means out.

"She must give way to a credible government that could lead by example," Aquino said.

"The vice president can replace her and after 60 days, or whatever the prescribed period is, he is supposed to call for elections," Aquino said. "But everything must start with her."

SENATE HEARING

At the Senate hearing on the NBN deal yesterday Dante Madriaga, alleged ZTE Corp. consultant, said the Chinese firm advanced $41 million to a “greedy group” to ensure that the government would give it the NBN contract.

He claimed the members of the “Greedy Group” are COMELEC chief Benjamin Abalos, Ruben Reyes, Leo San Miguel, retired General Quirino dela Torre, and the “First Couple.”

Golez said the allegations of Madriaga are no different than the allegations of Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada.

“These allegations by installment unless proven through the processes dictated by our laws would only remain allegations. We also find it difficult to believe that a mere technical consultant of a company would know so much about the president or her family,” Golez said.

Madriaga also said the meeting with First gentleman Mike Arroyo when he said “back off” took place Dec. 4 or 5, 2006, but that was the time he was confined at the hospital, Golez said.

This destroys the credibility of Madriaga instantaneously, Golez said.

P.5M BORROWED

Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite yesterday also told the Senate the P500,000 he gave Lozada came from an uncle who loaned him the money.

The senators expressed disbelief that Gaite had given such a big amount of money to someone he claimed to have met only twice.*CPG

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