Manila, Philippines (PNA) –- Malacanang welcomes the plan of Sandiganbayan to invite former President and current Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to testify against former National Economic and Development Authoirty (NEDA) director-general Romulo Neri in connection with the National Broadband Network-ZTE scandal, saying the move would help in finding out the truth about the botched deal.

Former first gentleman Miguel Arroyo will also be invited to give his testimony.

”We share the interest of the citizens in finding out the truth and the possibility that the statement of the former president may contribute to finding out the truth,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said at a press briefing.

Neri was charged with violation of the anti-graft law for conferring with then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. on the NBN project and for meeting with ZTE officials when the project was under assessment.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has formed a Truth Commission to investigate the corruption during the previous administration, but Coloma said the commission respects Sandiganbayan and the judiciary in its plan to invite the Arroyos.

”It is part of the judicial process. It was declared by the prosecutors in this case that they believe the testimony of the former President may be useful. The work of the judiciary will take its own course,” Coloma said.