In the spirit of Christmas, JDV open to reconciliation with GMA

In the spirit of Christmas, the family of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. is willing to reconcile with the First Family, whom they accused of corruption in the canceled $329-million national broadband network project.

“It all depends if she cleanses her government. Everything is possible. She will be heroic (if she does that),” De Venecia told reporters who covered the launching of his “Global Filipino” book at The Podium in Mandaluyong City last Monday.

“I just want her (President Arroyo) to lead the nation. She can become an outstanding president. So far, there is no hatred that I said in my book. I have no anger in my heart,” De Venecia said. The same is true with his wife Gina. “I hope she (Arroyo) could change so she could lead the Philippines.”

De Venecia, however, said that “there’s no need” for President Arroyo to become another Vladimir Putin, the former Russian president who became prime minister, in light of renewed attempts to amend the Constitution and extend the terms of elected officials, including Mrs. Arroyo.

De Venecia will celebrate his 72nd birthday tomorrow, Dec. 26.

Prior to his ouster as speaker last February, De Venecia had been an advocate of Charter change for the past 16 years. He now accuses Charter change proponents of trying to extend their terms.

It was a star-studded event Monday afternoon as three former presidents – Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada – attended the launching of De Venecia’s book, which was also graced by political and show business personalities.

Unlike Estrada, Mrs. Aquino had made it clear that she had no intention of attending were it not for the former speaker’s wife Gina. Aquino said De Venecia was “very lucky” to have a wife like Gina. 

“I’m here principally because of my good friend Gina. How could I say no to Gina? Masuwerte ka (you’re lucky), Joe. I think there are many of us here because of Gina. You are very lucky to have a better half like her,” she said.

Aquino told the huge crowd at that she made herself available to thank De Venecia for finally seeing the light, for severing his ties with Mrs. Arroyo, whom the former House leader is now accusing of corruption.

“Thank you, Joe, for coming out at last. So, I say it’s better late than never. I hope we can all be united.”

Estrada thanked the former speaker, who was ousted after his son Joey exposed the alleged bribery and overpricing in the $329-million NBN contract between the government and China’s ZTE Corp., for being a “gentleman and statesman” for conceding defeat in the 1998 presidential elections, where De Venecia lost to Estrada.

Reading the book of De Venecia was a headache for Estrada, who quipped: “Title pa lang, mahabang mahaba na. I had a headache reading it. But I suspect Malacañang had a bigger headache (reading it),” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.