ZTE: Let the court decide

It’s time to cut off the ZTE Senate investigation and get into the more urgent business of legislation. The issue has dragged on long enough and people are getting tired of something that is growing stale, beginning to suspect that the hearings are being carried out purely for political reasons. Obviously, prolonging the hearings will give some senators additional media mileage, but even that is beginning to strike people as a tiresome and worn-out pursuit.

If there really is a strong case against anybody, then by all means, they should bring this matter up to the court and let the axe fall where it may. This will give more leeway to the investigation and perhaps finally put a resolution to a controversy that has dragged on long enough. Of course, the legal system in this country leaves much to be desired, with cases progressing at a snail’s pace and taking years to resolve. But what can we do? That’s the system under which the legal process operates, and we just don’t have much of a choice.

As it is, the Senate is starting to look like the prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner all rolled into one especially with their decision to issue arrest warrants against Romulo Neri and Philippine Forest Corp. CEO Rodolfo Lozada, who have both refused to appear before the Senate investigating committee. Of course, some people are saying they can’t blame Lozada since he must be feeling claustrophobic in face of the mounting pressure, plus the fact that he could be placed under glaring media scrutiny.

At the same time, the arrest warrants could become another complicated issue with the PNP admitting it is under a predicament, needing to seek the legal opinion of the Department of Justice to serve the warrants. After all, these hearings and investigations are supposed to be in aid of legislation, so perhaps it’s about time the legislation part got started.

It wasn’t too long ago when the Senate and the Executive branch were at odds against each other, and it didn’t do much good. All this politicking is one more thing that will push us back at a time when the economy is doing well, registering a 7.3 percent GDP growth last year — the best so far in 31 years according to the National Statistics Coordination Board which was confirmed by reputable financial establishments. Even with the specter of an uncertain US economy because of the slump triggered by the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the volatile oil prices in the world market, the prospects for the Philippines are still positive with GDP growth expected between 5.1 to 7 percent in 2008.

Last year, dollar remittances by OFWs increased by more than 14 percent at $14 billion plus, which have contributed to the continued strong showing of the peso. Moody’s Investor Service raised the country’s credit rating outlook from stable to positive, while Standard and Poor’s acknowledged the improvement of government’s finances. Even the farm sector proved resilient despite the dry spell last year, posting a 4.7 growth which was within range of government projections. Foreign investors are again interested in the country. At the recent inauguration of the Balfour Beatty overhead transmission line Training Center at an industrial park in Laguna, British Ambassador Peter Beckingham confirmed that more British companies are showing interest in the Philippines because of the country’s impressive economic growth.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the international business community was totally impressed with the economic growth of the Philippines, which we can credit to the President. While some people may continue to carp that these economic gains are not being felt by the majority, of course it will take time for these things to really trickle down, especially since global recession has been rearing its ugly head. At least in this country, growth is starting to happen, and this needs to be sustained for us to catch up in terms of population growth. We need successive years of at least 7 percent growth to be able to reach the goal of becoming a second world country at the very least in the next 10 years.

In any case, the ZTE controversy is obviously tied up to the political survival of Speaker Joe de Venecia. Young congressmen are also up in arms and are using it as an opportunity to bring about a change in leadership. But as I advised the Speaker when I spoke with him over the phone, if he does not have the full support and confidence of majority of the congressmen, then he could do a swan song and give a dramatic farewell, valedictory address. As I have said on many occasions and as I told Joe, it is always better to leave at a high point in your career — at the peak of the highest mountain, not when you are in the deepest valley. This is the same for anyone, whether you are in politics, business, media or whatever profession — you always find that high point in your career, and then make your exit. 

In any case, the Senate should put an end to these hearings and move on with more important pursuits that would help the economy sustain its momentum. As it is, people are beginning to regard the proceedings as something motivated purely by politics. There has to be some closure somewhere along the line instead of letting the whole thing drag on. Like I said, if the senators have a strong case, then by all means they should let the Ombudsman file the appropriate charges and let the court decide. But let’s not be dictators and be the judge, jury and executioner at the same time.

* * *

E-mail: [email protected]