Binay urges Arroyo to resign amid ZTE deal controversy

Makati mayor and opposition leader Jejomar Binay on Tuesday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign in the heels of the First Gentleman’s implication in the controversial national broadband deal. Binay said Arroyo should make the supreme sacrifice of resigning, saying Jose “Joey" de Venecia III’s testimony exposes Malacañan’s hand behind the much-criticized $329.4-million contract. During the Senate hearing on the controversial deal, de Venecia tagged FG Jose Miguel Arroyo as the “mystery man" in reconciliatory talks to settle the dispute between de Venecia and Commission on Election (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos over the bidding for the project. “The occupants of Malacanang are the real destabilizers of their own government. The trail of corruption cases that invariably lead to the presidential bedroom can no longer be said to be mere political propaganda or maneuverings by the opposition," Binay said. Binay also urged Congressmen to cross party lines and start impeachment proceedings against President Arroyo and Abalos. “We have to make our public officials accountable for their misdeeds or else when and how do we stop corruption in governance?" Binay said. Meanwhile, House deputy minority leader and Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros challenged First Gentleman Arroyo to return to the Philippines to face de Venecia's accusations. "He should categorically state if he was truly with Abalos and whether he also pressured de Venecia to back off from bidding for the ZTE contract. Was he also aware that of the alleged bribe money that Abalos himself offered to de Venecia? The more silent he is on the accusation, the more difficult it would be to dissociate himself from the controversy," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros further said the minority will ensure that the individuals mentioned in de Venecia’s testimony will be summoned to the House own hearing on the controversial deal. She also renewed calls to have the deal cancelled. "We certainly don't want another PIATCO or another onerous contract. The ZTE deal is already tainted, and clearly the law was violated during the bidding of the contract. For the interest of all, the government should cancel the contract while an investigation is being pursued," Hontiveros said. - GMANews.TV