Palace denies another ZTE-type deal

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang denied yesterday allegations that the administration was entering into another ZTE-type deal based on the recent developments involving the Philippines and Barbados.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the opposition was engaging in wild speculations and intrigue with claims that President Arroyo made a side trip to Barbados during her two-week swing from Japan to Brazil.

“We really should not believe in these reports,” he said.

“I think this is really a time of political intrigues and it is also a time for asking the media to observe our gate keeping functions because there are just so many of these kinds of intrigues.”

Remonde, who accompanied Mrs. Arroyo to Japan, Colombia, Brazil and Hong Kong, denied that they visited to Barbados.

“There’s no truth to the rumor that we went to Barbados, and we have no plans to go to Barbados said the recent establishment of diplomatic relations with Barbados came after a long process of consultations initiated by the Ambassador to the United Nations Hilario Davide Jr.

The establishment of diplomatic relations with Barbados must not be linked to the awarding of the contract for the automated election system to Smartmatic, he added.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, United Opposition president said the Smartmatic deal was similar to the controversial NBN-ZTE deal, which involved a supposedly secret visit by President Arroyo to the headquarters of ZTE Corp. in China.

Irregularities reported about the NBN-ZTE deal forced President Arroyo to cancel the contract.

Remonde also clarified that the weekend stop over made by the President in Cartegena, Colombia en route to Brazil from Japan was nothing more than a technical stop or for refueling purposes. – Marvin Sy