Controversial whistleblower Joey de Venecia III yesterday said he felt vindicated with the filing of charges before the Sandiganbayan and the detention of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-Comelec chairman Benjamen Abalos, as a result of his expose on the aborted P16 billion National Broadband Network contract awarded to the Chinese firm ZTE Corporation in 2007.

De Venecia, son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., said he has been called again to testify against the detained Arroyo before the Sandiganbayan, and said he will only repeat what he had revealed toCongress in 2007 and 2008.

“My exposé bears fruit as two of the five prime suspects, Mrs. Arroyo and Abalos, are now detained,” he said. Similar charges were also filed against former Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza and Arroyo’s husband, Jose MiguelArroyo, among others.

The contract with ZTE was signed on April 20, 2007 in Hainan,China. After the irregularities were exposed, then President Arroyo immediately cancelled the broadband network project in October 2007.

The Arroyo couple, Abalos and Mendroza are accused of two counts of graft for allegedly showing unusual interest in the NBN contract, and of allegedly violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees by playing golf with ZTE officials who were interested in the broadband project.

The younger de Venecia, who expressed his gratitude for the support of Negrenses to him and his father in the ZTE-NBN expose, however, urged the Filipino people to continue their vigilance on cases filed against the respondents at the Sandiganbayan, to ensure the conviction of thoseinvolved in the irregularities and kickbacks.

Former Speaker de Venecia had earlier said that he is also willing to testify against Mrs. Arroyo in her Sandigan trial.

“If I get a subpoena from the Sandigan, I have no choice but to testify,” he added.

As to the impeachment trial of another ally of Arroyo, Supreme Court chief Justice Renato Corona,the younger de Venecia said it will give him a chance to clear his name, if he is not guilty of the accusations against him.

De Venecia said he hopes the senator-judges wrap it up as soon as possible, “because it takes away hours from very important legislations, such as creation of more jobs, health care, education, disaster prevention, among others.*”GPB

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