MANILA, Philippines?This time, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is being asked to talk about Romulo Neri, former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief, in connection with the controversial $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China?s ZTE Corp.

Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, are witnesses whom the prosecution intends to present at Neri?s trial, acting Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba Monday told the Sandiganbayan fifth division.

Neri was charged with violation of the anti-graft law for conferring with then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. on the NBN project, although the latter was not supposed to be involved with it, and for meeting with ZTE officials when the project was under assessment.

At a Senate hearing in September 2007, Neri said Abalos offered him P200 million while they were riding a golf cart, confirming reports that the contract for the NBN project was tainted by attempts to bribe certain people to facilitate the approval of the project.

?Sec, may two hundred ka dito (Secretary, you have 200 here),? Neri quoted Abalos as telling him at the Senate hearing on the NBN-ZTE deal.

?I was shocked because I am not used to being offered and it was quite big,? he said. Abalos has denied Neri?s claim.

Neri invoked executive privilege when asked to answer questions on Arroyo?s involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal.
The project sought to build a broadband network linking state agencies and local government units nationwide.

The former President and her husband were themselves accused at the Senate hearings of being the main beneficiaries of the overpricing of the contract. They denied the allegations.

First witness

Arroyo is the prosecution?s first witness at Neri?s trial. Turalba asked the anti-graft court to summon Arroyo to the next hearing through the House secretary general.

The other witnesses whom the prosecution intends to present at the trial are Abalos, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Jose de Venecia III, Rodolfo Lozada and officials and personnel from the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Sought for comment on the prosecution?s move to call the former President, Neri?s lawyer Paul Lentejas said he would just wait for Arroyo to talk.

?Let us see how she will testify, if she will testify,? Lentejas told reporters.

Arroyo and her husband have not been included on the list of witnesses to be called against Abalos, who is facing separate criminal charges in relation to the scuttled NBN-ZTE deal.

Turalba said prosecutors wanted to call Arroyo first because she had appointed Neri as NEDA head.

He said the former President would be asked to expound on Neri?s role in the NBN-ZTE contract, which the former President had canceled in the wake of allegations of overpricing.

?[We included her] only to shed light as to the participation of Secretary Neri in the ZTE contract because our concern is the case of Secretary Neri, as the one pending before this court,? Turalba told reporters.

Corroborative testimony

Mike Arroyo, the former first gentleman, is expected to provide corroborative testimony. The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

Asked whether Rep. Arroyo could refuse to take the stand, Turalba said ?she cannot because she?s testifying not as President, but as an ordinary witness.?

Should Arroyo fail to show up at the trial, Turalba said the prosecution would ask the Sandiganbayan to order her to explain her refusal to appear in court.

Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit said the former President could invoke her right against self-incrimination, but she still had to go to court first.

Initially not on list

Turalba said Arroyo was initially not on the list of witnesses whom state prosecutors intended to present because she might say that her testimony could have an impact on whatever case may be filed against her in connection with the NBN-ZTE deal.

Because the court said that only those listed could be presented as witnesses, prosecutors decided to include Arroyo?s name and that of her husband so they would not be barred from calling the couple to the stand later.