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Manila: Philippine lawmakers gave a former staunch ally of President Gloria Arroyo until next month to testify in an inquiry into a multi-million-dollar kickback scandal, an opposition senator said on Tuesday.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said a hearing by the opposition-dominated upper house of congress would be held in the third week of September into the $329 million (Dh1,207 million) deal with China's ZTE Corp to build a broadband network that would link state offices across the country.
"It will be the last hearing if there would be no new doors to be opened," Cayetano told reporters.
He said he hoped former House of Representatives Speaker Joe de Venecia would testify. The former Arroyo ally has said he will tell the Senate all he knows about the deal, but has not made any move toward a formal appearance.
Crucial Arroyo link
Newspapers have said his testimony could provide crucial evidence linking Arroyo or her husband to the deal. Previous witnesses have spoken of their connections to the deal, but have not offered any proof.
Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing.
Cayetano said his panel had got about 95 per cent of information needed to pin down those behind the bribery scandal and what new laws would be enacted to reform the government's procurement and bidding system.
Analysts say Arroyo is in no danger and is likely to see out her term which ends in June 2010 with solid support from the military and an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives.
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