The Ombudsman has committed a “grave moral mistake’’ because its decision on the controversial $329- million ZTE National Broadband Network (NBN) contract had conveniently left out the First Couple and instead settled for scapegoats such as former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos and former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief Romulo Neri, opposition Senator Francis Escudero said on Saturday.

“More than the legal aspects, the ZTE NBN case impacts on the moral fiber of the national leadership,’’ Escudero, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, said.

On the other hand, Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, said his panel’s public hearing on the ZTE contract will resume on Tuesday.

“I urge the office of the Ombudsman to reconsider its resolution clearing President Arroyo and her husband of any involvement in the ZTE- NBN scandal,’’ Escudero said.

“I believe that the controversies surrounding the case have not been exhaustively heard, and witnesses and evidence against the alleged players have not been properly examined,’’ he added.

After learning of the Ombudsman decision that it would be filing criminal charges against him, Neri, now the Social Security System (SSS) president, was reported to have been hurt since he did not receive any bribe money; yet he is to face criminal charges.

Neri had informed President Arroyo that Abalos tried to bribe him, but the President reportedly told him not to accept the bribe.

He had earlier testified before the Senate that Abalos told him that he would receive “two hundred’’ should he approve the contract. When pressed what the phrase meant, he said he took the phrase to mean “P200 million.’’

Following the Ombudsman’s decision, Neri told reporters that he would bring his secret to the grave.

Asked whether he could compel Neri to appear, Gordon said his committee could compel anybody and “they can say executive privilege (as) executive privilege is not exactly a defense (because) when you say that, you are hiding something.’’