More revelations from Joey de Venecia

FIRST Gentleman Mike Arroyo was allegedly promised a $70-million kickback by resigned poll chief Benjamin Abalos Sr. from the aborted National Broadband Network (NBN) deal, according to businessman Jose ‘Joey’ de Venecia III, the House Speaker’s son.

Testifying during the fifth Senate hearing investigating the anomalous contract, de Venecia III said that he called businessman Enrique ‘Ricky’ Razon after a reconciliation meeting with Abalos at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club. It was during this meeting the Arroyo reportedly told de Venecia III to “back off” the project.

Listen to de Venecia III’s testimony.

After hearing de Venecia’s story, Razon then reportedly swore. “Kasi yang Abalos na iyan, sinabi pa niya [Abalos] kay Mike na meron siyang $70 million dito. Hindi ito nakakalimutan ni Mike. (That Abalos, he even told Mike that he had $70 million [from the NBN deal]. Mike hasn’t forgotten this.)”

Arroyo was invited to attend the hearing, but declined to attend, saying that his doctor had advised him to avoid stress due to his heart condition. His lawyer, Ruy Rondain, belied de Venecia’s statements.

Razon also denied de Venecia’s testimony, saying that the latter was “delusional.”

De Venecia’s testimony did not stop with his revelation about Arroyo. He also told the Senate that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allegedly asked then National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Romulo Neri why he didn’t accept a P200-million bribe in order to endorse the NBN contract with Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Limited (ZTE).

“Hindi ako ganoong klaseng tao (I’m not that kind of person),” Neri reportedly answered. “Huwag mo na lang tanggapin pero i-approve mo ang project (Don’t accept it, but approve the project),” the President allegedly replied.

De Venecia also claimed that Neri told him that he wanted to resign at that point.

An angry Neri refuted de Venecia’s testimony as “totally untrue,” saying that he was “shocked and appalled.” Neri, who did not attend the hearing as he was on official travel in Hong Kong, issued a statement through Palace functionary Ricardo Saludo.

Read Neri’s statement.