This is the story thus far of the ZTE - National Broadband Network (NBN) scandal that has rocked the Philippines so far. It’s based on the timeline published in the Philippine Star. It’s told in rhyme! It’s a ZTE poem! Tap your desk for rhythm as you read along.

THE ZTE STORY SO FAR (In Rhyme!)

In late October of Oh-Six, some genius hatched a scheme.
Connect the nation - through the Web – was then the lifelong dream.
And never mind that barangays in Davao and Samar
haven’t had kuryente since Aquino was in power.

One month later, we have NEDA and CICT
endorsing NBN to Gloria, who wants BOT.
A lot of acronyms - we know! – can show simplicity.
(We’ll find out later how these foster much duplicity.)

Romy Neri led the NEDA in November then.
CICT’s Ramon Sales championed NBN.
In December, Amsterdam Holdings Incorporated
Bid for NBN but then they ended up frustrated.

You see, sometime in February, oh so very late,
Zhong Xing Telecoms had bid to build then operate.
Three hundred million dollars was ZTE’s highest bid.
On March 18, the AHI complained this was sordid.

Four days before, Arescom proposes some hardware for
The NBN for One Thirty-Five Million dollars more.
By the 26th of March, Neri shows some concern.
But three days later, NBN’s approved – he’s overturned.

Just one day later, Jarius Bondoc of Philippine Star
Writes about the slowly escalating broadband war.
Neri gets a letter – soon to be the first of many –
Expressing worry, this one from Ambassador K. Kenney.

The deal is signed in April – 21 to be precise –
Between us and the Chinese group, for sums that seem quite nice.
Three thirty million dollars sends some eyebrows through the air.
And Sales quits on June 5 as the CICT Chair.

In June 2007, Bondoc has another scoop,
and this one’s from a woman who is buried in the loop.
Vida Bocar, working for the anti-graft commission,
is fired for seeking info on the ZTE transition.

And that same month, the contract between ZTE and us
Vanished from the DOTC’s archives without fuss.
One month later, Neri is demoted to be head
Of the Commission on Higher Education – more known to us as CHED.

Well, that same month, the DOJ says ZTE is fine.
It’s “legal” and it’s “valid,” and there’s no more need to whine.
By end of month, a suit is filed by Iloilo’s best:
Vice-Governor R. Suplico won’t give ZTE a rest.

By August 25, our contract for the surety
Of equipment for the NBN is signed with ZTE.
In a column two days later, Jarius says the reps had made
A lot more than some signatures: there were hotel sexcapades!

On August 29, a bombshell in the Lower House!
Nueva Vizcaya Rep Carlos Padilla has a mouse -
A bubwit – who unleashes some amazing news and more.
Comelec chairman Abalos is involved in this furor!

Abalos admits that he’s met up with ZTE
But only for some golf in China, nothing more, says he.
GMA tells Cabinet to shush by September 3.
And four days later, we have impact from III JDV.

Joey de Venecia says Ben Abalos had tried
To buy his silence with a large ten million-dollar bribe.
By the 11th of September, the SC then steps in
And files a restraining order against project NBN.

Then one week later, JDV III says he had teed off
With FG Mike Arroyo, who then told him to “back off.”
FG says, I did no such thing!, first gentleman is he.
But four days later, GMA suspends the ZTE.

When the Senate heard the case on September 26,
Neri said a bribe had happened, there were really tricks.
He said Ben Abalos had tried to bribe him to endorse,
And he told GMA, who still approved this dying horse.

On October first, Ben Abalos resigns from Comelec.
Two days later, GMA says ZTE’s a wreck.
Blue Ribbon chair Cayetano schedules hearing by month’s end.
The NEDA chair won’t give them documents on NBN.

On 10 October, Neri says the documents are free.
They’re public, and should be available for all to see.
The Senate drags on hearings for the next two months or so,
until we meet a fellow who is deeply in the know.

Jun Lozada is a man who knows of ZTE.
He’s a government consultant in the fast realm of IT.
Two hours before Senate starts, he flies off to Hong Kong,
Despite the knowledge what he did was obviously quite wrong.

Orders for his fast arrest – and Neri’s, too – are made.
Neri avoids all the cops; J-Lo flies home when swayed.
He disappears, and for some hours, seems to all quite lost.
His whereabouts unknown, people start to count the cost.

The Palace says they had nothing to do with J-Lo’s mark.
PNP Chief Razon says that he’s kept in the dark.
J-Lo’s wife Violeta files a writ with the SC.
His brother Arthur does the same to underline their plea.

Soon after, Razon takes the stage and with his “police charm,”
Informs the world that J-Lo’s safe and he has not been harmed.
“The man’s in police custody,” the PNP chief says.
“OMG,” the nation gasps in shock, “He’s good as dead.”

It turns out J-Lo isn’t dead; he’s hiding from the mob.
Some theorize that his demise was foiled, a bungled job.
The media covers all the stops; results are not dismal.
Instead of becoming a Dacer, he ends up in La Salle.

Protected by the men in white, Lozada tells us all
The deal with ZTE was anything but really small.
He links Arroyo – FG, man! – and Chairman Abalos
To ZTE and NBN, at great personal cost.

He says the former Comelec Chairperson wants him dead,
Revealing a huge kickback for him and the nation’s head.
From Two-Six-Two Mil, NBN had grown to Three-Thirty.
130 Mil for Abalos; Arroyo Seventy.

During investigation, we can see the lines are drawn.
One by one, the senators are by Lozada, won.
In search for justice, they’re convinced his testimony’s neat.
(Never mind the puddle of tears pooling at his feet.)

In later testimonies, the corruption web has spread.
J-Lo implicates most every businessman and head.
(One of the more shocking revelations of the lad?
He claims to have met up with Mrs. ‘Lagot ka if you’re bad.’)

Right now, we’re waiting for a testimony with much bated breath.
Assuming J-Lo is protected from uncertain death,
There is much to see and hear, and things get rather scary,
When he says “GMA is evil,” according to Sec Neri.

With Jamby and Ping Lacson finding patriotic cash,
And government sending the Ombudsman in a frantic dash,
With churches gathering their flocks for a different people power,
And loyalties to GMA now growing rather sour,
With media and bloggers frothing at the mouth for more,
With Team RP now forming to revitalize the core,
With us, the middle class, just working to keep us afloat,
With many Filipinos hoping now to rock the boat,
With demon partnership now part of evil’s definition
The time may be upon us for a government transition.
A shifting in the paradigm may be a welcome treat.
God save us from a lady who stands just below five feet.

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