BY JOVE!

UPROAR

Never mind all the noise that the deal is questionable.

Malacanang will not cancel the contract of its broadband deal with China’s ZTE Corporation.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said: “Definitely, there is no order to discontinue just because of the uproar!”

Palace insiders say, the reason is “economic”. That it is bad economics to trash a contract because of “mere allegation”.

Ermita even dared those who are saying that the contract is shady — to prove their allegations in court.

Don’t expect the place to interfere with the process, also.

It is not even about to conduct an internal investigation among its officials even if a number of them are already being implicated in the mess.

And this even if the President witnessed the signing of the deal herself.

Mrs Arroyo just ordered her officials, especially Transportation and Communications Secretary Larry Mendoza to justify themselves before the court.

A case has so far been filed before the Supreme Court about the deal and a separate case has been filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

For more details about the broadband deal controversy, please view the reports (of our justice, COMELEC and congress correspondents) —in the ff September 5, 2007 YouTube links of BIG NEWS and SENTRO (ABC 5 M-F 6:45pm and 9:30pm respectively).

SENTRO part1

(Developments in the Cris Mendez story. Mini documentary: Remembering Soldiers Who Were Killed in Basilan)

SENTRO part2

(Developments in the ZTE controversy. Beware of ukay ukay story)

SENTRO part3

(Sidetrack Segment hosted by Jove)

Sites and blogs mentioned in the second edition of Sidetracked: Manolo The Pink Panther film

, Annalyn, Tingog, AboutMy Recovery Robot Chicken: Star Wars video , Manuel Viloria, Anton, ExoticMaiden, ProfessionalHeckler and the famous and funny YouTube video: Troy in Ilongo The Last Seduction dvd

Also included in the video is the “mystery” about what ES Ermita told PGMA that caused her to “react theatrically” during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. The story behind the CD and the photos (taken by Lyn Rillon), is included in the second edition of SIDETRACKED.

Plus a tip regarding APEC 2007.

Sidetracked, the first edition is HERE