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Malacañang admits Arroyo met ZTE officials in China

Thursday, 15 May 2008

Malacañang on Wednesday admitted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Company Limited (ZTE) officials in Schenzen on Nov. 2, 2006, but maintained that the activity was not a "secret."

This came a day after Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico said a new witness is in possession of new evidence that he said would directly link President Arroyo to the $329.48-million ZTE deal. Citing statements made by the witness he identified only as "Alex," Suplico said President Arroyo visited the ZTE offices in China along with the First Gentleman and then-Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos during a side trip from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, China on Nov. 2, 2006.

The Black and White Movement said that when the story of President Arroyo's 2006 meeting with ZTE officials in China first broke, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye was quick to deny that the meeting took place.

But the denial was denied by another Palace official.

In a radio interview, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo confirmed the meeting, although she insisted that it was not a secret, and should not be blown out of proportion.

Fajardo said the meeting, where President Arroyo supposedly even played golf with ZTE officials, was "no different" from past meetings with potential foreign investors.

Fajardo added that while the photo of President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo appeared authentic, she said it was "nothing new."

On the other hand, she said public attention should not be diverted to the ZTE mess but should remain "focused" on the issue of high power rates.

Her statement was echoed by Ermita later Wednesday afternoon.

“I don't know who the ZTE officials are but the President indeed was there on that date. It was a
private activity in the sense that it was a golf game. She was there but it was a social activity by the President. That's not being denied," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said during his weekly press conference.

“How can you keep an activity a secret? When a President leaves a country, everyone should know. Imagine how big her entourage is," Ermita said.

He also revealed that former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and former Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. were also present with the First Couple during the Schenzen visit.

President Arroyo was in China on Oct. 27-Nov. 1, 2006 for the China-Asean Summit and in Hongkong on Nov. 1-3.

The Hongkong trip - which includes a visit to Disneyland and where Arroyo went back to China - was considered a private affair.

Ermita said the first thing that came to his mind when he saw the headline about the Arroyo couple's golf game in Schenzen was that it could part of efforts to divert the public's attention from the Meralco issue.

He noted the supposed witness could not even say that he was present when the contract was allegedly discussed. He then challenged the witness to come out in the proper forum and reveal what he knows.

Ermita also told reporters that he does not know if Arroyo indeed proceeded to the ZTE headquarters but his information is that she played golf and was treated to lunch.

“Should we all question the meetings of President Arroyo with Hanjin, Teletech?...Binigyan lang ito ng color because it is very high on the totem pole of the issues of 2007," he said.

He said Arroyo was aware at that time that the broadband project was forthcoming, but it was
“improbable" that the subject matter was taken up during the “social lunch" at Schenzen. He also said that the ZTE-NBN project was “never perfected" because it was canceled.- GMANews.TV

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