Palace urges GMA to cooperate in $329-million NBN deal probe

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday urged Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to cooperate in the investigation into the controversy surrounding the $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal.

Malacañang made the appeal to the former president after the Sandiganbayan on Thursday ruled that she could not be made a witness for the prosecution against her former socioeconomic adviser Romulo Neri in the case.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang respects the ruling of the Sandiganbayan favoring Arroyo.

Valte said Arroyo would still face the Truth Commission that had been tasked by President Aquino to find out the truth behind the NBN deal.

She stressed Arroyo should cooperate rather than block the investigation into the issue if she has nothing to hide.

“The court did not rule the way it is because the accused is the former president. That is really the rule of procedure. That is the right of an accused in any criminal case. So let’s just make it clear that the Sandiganbayan did not rule like that just because the accused is a former president and now an incumbent congresswoman,” she said.

Valte said the President wanted to put closure to the issue of the NBN deal, which is why he created the Truth Commission.

Valte said Arroyo should appear before the Truth Commission if she has nothing to hide and “nothing to fear.”

She said it would be up to the truth panel to decide whether to get the testimonies of other witnesses in the case.

Valte said Malacañang welcomed the fact that witnesses were standing pat on their testimonies regarding the issue.

“I think the Palace shares the view that as long as the truth is told and the truth is consistent to what had been said then, of course, we welcome that,” she said.