MANILA, Philippines—Former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director-general Romulo Neri has posted bail even before the Sandiganbayan could issue an arrest warrant for his involvement in the botched National Broadband Network (NBN)-ZTE Corp. telecommunications deal controversy.
Sandiganbayan 5th Division clerk of court Teresita Pabulayan said Neri may have posted the P30,000 bail after receiving news that the arrest warrant would be issued Monday.
The warrant of arrest was issued Monday afternoon after the court found probable cause against him.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the graft charges last week.
He allegedly “acquiesced” to attending lunch meetings with Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE Corp., even if his previous office, NEDA, was still reviewing the NBN-ZTE contract.
Neri was transferred to the Social Security System (SSS) after the controversy.-- report from Chiara Zambrano
