$329 MILLION NBN - ZTE DEAL, CORRUPTION RIDDEN PROJECT GRAFT CHARGES SOUGHT ON ARROYOS Video

*RE-UPLOAD FROM AYAWGLORIA AND PINASWATCH CHANNELS*
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/171031/looking-back-the-nbn-zte-controversy

Looking back: The NBN-ZTE controversy
08/29/2009 | 07:23 PM

•TONGPATS, ANYONE?
It was two years ago when the First Couple was linked to the allegedly corruption-ridden NBN-ZTE project. The Arroyo couple was recently cleared of graft charges by the Office of the Ombudsman. The critics are crying foul. How did the controversy start? What were the allegations? Lets look at what had happened.

June 5, 2006: Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Philippines-China Economic Partnership executed between the governments of the Philippines and China. NEDA Secretary Romulo L. Neri and DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila represent the Philippines and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai represents the People's Republic of China.

April 2007: Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ZTE Corp. Vice President Yu Yong enter into a US$ 329.5 million contract for a national broadband network (NBN) that will improve government communications capabilities.

August 29, 2007: Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla discloses in a privilege speech that COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos met with ZTE officials in China weeks before April 2007, apparently to broker for the NBN project:

"Apparently, Chairman Abalos' unofficial trips to China courtesy of ZTE Corporation and his golf games with the officers of ZTE Corporation can hardly be characterized as just friendly and totally innocuous. He was a man on a mission. Could the mission be the US $329 million NBN project?"

Padilla notes that there were two other private entities which signified their intention to build the NBN for the government. The project cost in these private companies' proposals were cheaper than ZTE's.

August 30, 2007: Abalos denies brokering for the National Broadband Network (NBN) project despite admitting he knows some officials in ZTE Corp. He admits making four trips to China and playing golf there, but denies reports that he had lobbied for the ZTE deal in exchange for money and sex.

September 5, 2007: Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. files resolution calling for a Senate investigation into the circumstances leading to the approval of the broadband contract with ZTE Corp.

September 10, 2007: In an affidavit, Jose De Venecia III claims that he was with Abalos in China when the latter met with ZTE officials. He claimed he heard Abalos demand for money from the ZTE officials.

*De Venecia III is a majority shareholder of Amsterdam Holdings, Inc.. AHI submitted an unsolicited proposal to DOTC on the NBN project. De Venecia III is the son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

September 11, 2007: The Supreme Court en banc issues temporary restraining order against the implementation of the controversial NBN contract between the Philippines and Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications (ZTE) Corp.

September 18, 2007: Testifying during a Senate hearing on the ZTE controversy, De Venecia III said FG Arroyo told him to "back off" from pursuing the multi-million dollar national broadband network project.

September 20, 2007: Most cabinet members show up at the Senate to watch the continuation of the Senate hearing on the ZTE controversy. DOTC Leandro Mendoza attends the hearing, but former NEDA Director General Romulo Neri fails to show up.

PLEASE READ THE WHOLE NEWS ARTICLE, CLICK ON THIS LINK:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/171031/looking-back-the-nbn-zte-controversy