MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Panfilo Lacson is keeping his cards close to his chest on the identity of his “surprise witness” on Tuesday.

Some senators are wary of being kept in the dark, especially if no additional evidence will be provided to support allegations of massive kickbacks in the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal in which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband have been implicated.

In an interview with reporters, Lacson said that as of Monday, his witness had confirmed his attendance at Tuesday’s probe to “corroborate, enhance and dispute the previous testimonies.”

Lacson would not say how the new testimony would compare with the explosive statements of businessman Jose de Venecia III and project consultants Rodolfo Lozada Jr. and Dante Madriaga.

“I am keeping his identity a secret up to the last minute because Malacañang has a history of terrorizing witnesses,” said Lacson who claimed to have spoken to the new witness on three occasions.

He said that Malacañang had launched a “smear drive”—an interview with bogus witnesses Mary Ong, alias Rosebud, and Richard Garcia were shown on prime time government television—to discredit him for being relentless in bringing alleged irregularities in the NBN deal right to the Palace doorstep.

Ong has accused Lacson of “recycling” illegally seized drugs when he was chief of the Philippine National Police, among other things. Garcia, in a “jueteng” hearing, implicated Ms Arroyo’s husband and son in illegal gambling protection payoffs but later recanted his testimony.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the blue ribbon committee, said that the new witness would only be allowed to testify at the hearing at 10 a.m. if Lacson vouched for him, just like he did for Madriaga who came unannounced last week.

But some senators have expressed concern over how witnesses have been allowed to practically walk in at the hearing without processing—a situation that could lead to the embarrassment of a false testimony.

Screening witnesses

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the chairs of the three committees jointly investigating the NBN deal should screen witnesses.

“Ideally, we should have (witness) processed so we can also prepare but under the circumstances that they fear he or she will be intimidated or harassed, this extraordinary approach is acceptable. But this should not be a precedent for future hearings,” Pangilinan said.

“If you ask me, we should prepare the preliminary report based on all the hearings since September and then subject to reopening whether or not there will be more witnesses with direct and personal knowledge or newly discovered evidence. Absent that, we have to make the preliminary report,” he said.

“If for example, the new witness will not add to the testimonies that we already have, we should make the preliminary report.” he said.

Neri testimony awaited

Pangilinan said the hearing could be reopened after the Supreme Court decides on the case of former Director General Romulo Neri of the National Economic Development Authority, who has asked the tribunal to stop the Senate from continuing his testimony, invoking executive privilege on questions that ostensibly would implicate Ms Arroyo in NBN irregularities.

He said Neri could provide the “direct testimony (that) we are looking for.”

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said Lozada, De Venecia and Madriaga had so far given only “hearsay” testimonies that even if they tend to complement each other would still not change their nature.

“Even if there are 10 hearsay (evidence) piling up they are still hearsay. They should have actual knowledge, they have to be a principal witness who would say that money passed through his hands or someone who made the bribery himself,” Enrile said.

‘Greedy group’

Cayetano said his committee had invited 17 resource persons for Tuesday’s hearing, including the so-called “Greedy Group”—former Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos, bagman Ruben Reyes, cable TV executive Leo San Miguel, retired police official Quirino de la Torre, Abalos’ Chief of Staff Jimmy Paz, ZTE disbursement officer Fan Yang, and Chinese commercial attaché Yu Yong.

The Senate will also test the government’s sincerity in withdrawing Executive Order No. 464, a directive to Malacañang and security officials to stay away from Congressional hearings unless authorized by the President. Bishops had asked for the withdrawal of executive order.

The Senate invited, among many others, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Presidential Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza.

Also invited was businessman Enrique Razon Jr., who has close ties to Malacañang.

Cayetano said First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo would also be invited later.