Magsaysay chide JDV over ‘threat’ to testify in Senate ZTE probe

Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos" Magsaysay said De Venecia's move to announce his intention to testify appears as if he was trying to strike a deal with the government

Several lawmakers on Monday criticized former House Speaker and Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia over pronouncements that he intends to testify before the Senate panel investigating the controversial national broadband network deal with ZTE Corp.

Some of De Venecia's colleagues at the House of Representatives said the former Speaker lacks credibility to back up whatever testimony he will be giving the Senate, while others called De Venecia's pronouncement a "bluff."

Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, son of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra with whom De Venecia had a tiff with in 1992, said De Venecia will only appear to be sour-graping from his ouster as House Speaker.

"JDV does not have any credibility anymore. Everything he says will just come out as sour-graping. Why didn’t he speak up when he was still Speaker?" Mitra said.

For his part, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr called De Venecia's "threat" to testify before the Senate a "bluff," saying he will similarly fail in delivering the "knockout punch" which his son and namesake failed to deliver when he testified on the controversial deal.

"If the son who was in the midst of it failed to give the knockout punch, how can the father who was far away from it succeed this time? JDV is giving too much credit for himself. If he thinks he can bring down the government, then he is now believing in his own propaganda. His record in arousing the people is, however, dismal," Barzaga said.

"He can’t get the people to elect him President (in 1998), so what gives him the confidence that with him leading the charge they will help him unseat the current one?" the lawmaker asked

Another colleague at the Lower House, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin who was among the few lawmakers who voted to keep De Venecia in the speakership battle last February 4 said the issue would still boil down to vested interests.

Garin also questioned De Venecia's intentions in coming out only now, saying the issue has been on the table for a long time.

The lawmaker noted that it is glaring that De Venecia's son Joey lost the NBN contract.

"His affiliation as a father of a bidder would question his credibility. Testifying on the accusations against the present administration, I cannot really see and say that he (JDV) is very credible," Garin said.

"We have questions in mind. What he is up to? Why only now? And third, up to what extent is his involvement? Because a credible witness will come out as somebody who would really like to clear the issue and not somebody who has business vested interest on it," Garin said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, welcomed De Venecia’s threat, saying: "If he wants to commit hara-kiri, then he should go for it. He will be the first to go down although on second thought, he’s already down."

Puentevella said "vengeance" for his ouster as House Speaker is likely De Venecia's motive.
"Hell hath no fury than a powerful man scorned. It is not truth that is motivating him but most probably vengeance. It is of public knowledge that he has some scores to settle," Puentevella said.

For Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos" Magsaysay, De Venecia's move to announce his intention appears as if he was trying to strike a deal with the government.

“By so much drumbeating, this has led many to wonder that by firing warning shots, what JDV really wants is to cut a deal with Malacañang. By threatening war, maybe he wants a ceasefire, for himself and for his son," Magsaysay said.

“I wish the former Speaker will stop coming out with teasers. He is only making the situation worse because he will comment but refuse to divulge. If there is indeed anything to divulge," she added. - GMANews.TV