Former House speaker testifies on Arroyo, Abalos golf round with ZTE execs

MANILA, Philippines—Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia testified at the  Sandiganbayan graft court on Tuesday  that former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos was present at a 2006 Shenzhen golf game involving former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and officials of China’s ZTE Corp.

De Venecia said he was surprised at Abalos’ presence at the gathering. He also said it was Abalos who was arranging who would play with whom at the golf course.

He said the group later went to the ZTE headquarters where the latter’s proposal for a Philippine project was discussed over lunch.

ZTE had been awarded the $329 million national broadband network project, but the deal was later cancelled amid allegations of overpricing and kickbacks.