Jose “Joey” de Venecia III is unlikely to attend the arraignment of former Social Security System (SSS) president Romulo Neri regarding the NBN-ZTE scam at the Sandiganbayan on July 16.

The main whistleblower in the botched $329 national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE scam said he will be leaving for China next week to attend an economic summit to represent Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“As the economic adviser of Vice President Binay, I will be in China for the economic summit set from July 13 to 22,’’ De Venecia told reporters, adding he is now helping the vice president since he ran as senator under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) ticket last election.

"Besides, babasahan pa lang siya ng charges (charges will still be read). He could plead guilty or not guilty of the accusations,'' he said.

The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division chaired by Associate Justice Roland B. Jurado will try the graft case against Neri.

Jurado earlier ordered the arrest of Neri in view of the graft charges lodged against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Neri is accused of approving the NBN-ZTE deal while he was then head of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) despite knowledge of the supposed irregularities in the contract.

Neri, however, evaded arrest after posting a bail of P30,000 for his temporary freedom.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chaired by Justice Gregory Ong will hear the graft case against former Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos in connection with the same project on July 20.

Like Neri, Abalos was also charged of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by the Office of the Ombudsman for his participation in the NBN project.

Abalos allegedly offered the former NEDA director a bribe of P200 million in exchange for the approval of the contract.
 
Lawyer Ruth Ferrer, head of the legal division office, explained that the Sandiganbayan justices ordered arraignment of the two accused in order for the court divisions “to be able to take jurisdiction over the persons of the accused.”

Recently, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) placed both Neri and Abalos in their hold-departure order on request of the Sandiganbayan.

While admitting to have received a subpoena to attend the hearing of Abalos, De Venecia said he will also likely be absent since the summit will run until the 22nd.

But he said he might testify before the Department of Justice (DoJ) or attend the pre-trial at the Sandiganbayan should he be asked to do so.

“Everything I said in public, I don’t mind repeating it,’’ he said.

As to the case with former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, De Venecia said he will only appear before the court if there are new evidences filed.

De Venecia had also implicated Mr. Arroyo in the NBN-ZTE mess, but charges against the latter were dropped by the Ombudsman.

The young De Venecia said he expects his case to be strong, adding the parties accused “will not be able to demoralize it.’’

He noted, however, that for the case to be convincing, it has to be handled by an efficient prosecutor who will defend the case tooth and nail.