A ray of hope in Puno

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Although the members of the Senate and most Filipinos are crestfallen over the recent ruling of the highest court of the land on the case of former National Economic Development Administration head, Romulo Neri, a ray of hope still remains that real justice may triumph in the end here.

The Supreme Court had to rule on the case where Neri, then a very influential adviser of the President, was summoned by the Senate investigating body to testify on the government deal involving the installation of a national broadband network all over the country. The contract for the project that would cost the country some $340 million, had been signed – although nobody could find a copy of it when needed – and systems were almost ready to go when it was revealed that the cost had been padded to the tune of some $120 million, an amount that was allegedly earmarked for commissions of officials and private parties.

The claims attained some credibility when Neri himself had admitted that the chairman then of the Commission on Election, Benjamin Abalos, had offered him P200 million to approve and expedite the execution of the contract. Not only that, Neri also disclosed that he had informed the President about the bribe offer, but had added that she told him not to accept the money, but to go ahead with the project.

But Neri took a 180-degree turn soon after his Senate disclosures. He later refused to return to the Senate for further probing, and defied its calls for him to come and tell the truth. And he invoked Executive Privilege in doing so. When the Senate attempted to cite him for contempt and issue him a warrant of arrest, he questioned the authority of the Senate to compel him, hence the appeal to the Supreme Court.

Well the Court has spoken. Nine of its 15 members backed the ruling that said Neri could enjoy executive privilege. But not all the justices think so, the Chief Justice himself does not think so. The other justices apparently thought the same way, too.

Will this mean another round of appeals and petitions to the Supreme Court that will eventually lead to the discarding of the case?*