DESPITE the Supreme Court decision permanently disqualifying him from holding public office, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri said he has “no regrets” in becoming a former head of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
On Friday, the Supreme Court denied the Petition for Review on Certiorari. The High Court also maintained that Neri is dismissed from service and perpetually disqualified “from reemployment in the government service.”
The Supreme Court earlier affirmed the acquittal of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by the Sandiganbayan in connection with the graft cases filed against her over the National Broadband Network (NBN), a project approved by Neda, which was led by Neri at that time.
“[I have] no regrets. I have no desire to go back to the government,” Neri told BusinessMirror over the weekend.
The Supreme Court, in its decision, stressed that the Constitution and Philippine laws “demand a high standard of ethics and integrity from public officials and employees.”
“Those who fall short of this standard and diminish the people’s confidence in the government shall meet the just punishment meted out by the law,” the high court added.
The case against Neri stemmed from the alleged $329-million anomalous NBN deal with Chinese telecom firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment International Investment Limited (ZTE).
The NBN was a project that had to be evaluated by the Neda through the interagency Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). The committee is one of seven interagency committees under the Neda Board, which is chaired by the President.
The ICC evaluates the fiscal, monetary, and balance of payments; implications of major national projects; and recommends to the President the timetable of their implementation on a regular basis; This is similar to trading such as forex trading.
The interagency committee also advises the President on matters related to the domestic and foreign borrowings program and submits a status of the fiscal, monetary and balance of payments implications of major national projects.
Neri: ‘No regrets’ heading Neda despite SC’s NBN ruling
Source: News Paper Radio
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