Joker says probe of Venable contract may be revived

The Senate is not ruling out a revival of its probe into the government contract with Venable LLP after it was reported that the lobby group is again representing the Philippines before the United States Congress.

Sen. Joker Arroyo, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said he wants to know who is funding the Venable LLP contract, particularly if it is being funded by private groups.

According to the files of the US Department of Justice, Venable is still in the employ of Malacañang, which tasked it to enhance relations between the two countries.

All lobbyists have to register their clients and according to a statement filed in January with the US justice department, Venable signed its latest contract with Maj. Gen. Arturo Carrillo, presidential adviser on military affairs, to discuss, communicate, and meet with senior US government officials or their staff regarding enhanced RP-US ties.

Among those mentioned were Vice President Richard Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, United Nations Ambassador John Bolton and other officials from the State Department and the National Security Council.

Opposition Sen. Sergio Osmeña agreed with Arroyo’s claims that a "crony" would benefit from any transaction with Venable. Osmeña also urged the lobby group to reveal who is paying for its services.

However, Arroyo concedes that any move to reopen the inquiry will be hampered by Executive Order No. 464, which bars government officials from attending congressional inquiries without written permission from President Arroyo. — Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero and Lito Katigbak, STAR Washington Bureau