Ombudsman reconstitutes ZTE probe panel

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman reconstituted over the weekend the panel investigating the cancelled $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp., after Ombudsman Merceditas  Gutierrez inhibited herself from the case due to her close relations with President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Gutierrez inhibited herself from the case in its first public hearing on Feb. 18.

Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III was named head of the panel, with Deputy Special Prosecutor Robert Kallos, Assistant Ombudsman Rodolfo Elman, Director Caesar Asuncion, and Deputy Special Prosecutor Jesus Micael as members.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus remains the OMB panel’s spokesman. 

Earlier, Gutierrez formed a panel of lawyers to investigate the NBN case, naming Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro as chairman.

But a complainant claimed that Casimiro was involved in clearing officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), including its former chief Benjamin Abalos, in the P1.3-billion poll automation deal controversy of the Mega Pacific.

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. filed a Motion to Inhibit against Casimiro. Although Casimiro refused to inhibit himself from the case, the Ombudsman replaced him.

Gutierrez said she is confident that the new panel will conduct a speedy investigation of the ZTE-NBN cases objectively and fairly.

“The panel members are all career officials with proven track records,” she said.  – Sandy Araneta