The Sandiganbayan issued a hold departure order against Social Security System chair Romulo Neri, a day after he posted bail to evade arrest in connection with the graft case lodged against him for his alleged involvement in the ZTE-NBN broadband controversy.
Radio dzBB reported that the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division, chaired by Justice Roland Jurado, issued the order allowing for Neri's arrest in case he attempts to leave the country.
The Sandiganbayan panel is handling the graft case the Office of the Ombudsman filed against Neri, who is implicated in the allegedly graft-tainted $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal the Arroyo government entered with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. in April 2007.
The deal has been scrapped following reports of kickbacks involving government officials and even First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, who has repeatedly denied involvement in the transaction.
At the time of the deal, Neri was director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), which screens government projects.
Last Monday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued an arrest warrant against Neri, who posted a bail of P30,000 for his temporary liberty. — Sophia Regina Dedace/KBK/RSJ
