Norberto Gonzalez

He's covering up for GMA.

AFTER two hours of intensive grilling which yielded a lot of befuddlement and no clear answers, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales Jr. was cited for contempt by the Senate and kept in detention under the custody of the Senate sergeant of arms.

At times bumbling, at other times seemingly deliberately dense, Gonzales frustrated the Senate blue-ribbon committee with his inability to give straight answers to their questions about the nearly $1-million contract he signed with the US lobby firm, Venable LLP, to secure donations and US Congress earmarks to support the charter change initiative. (See PCIJ story on the Venable contract here.)

Read the rest sa PCIJ.

UPDATE:More from Malaya:

Senate detains NSC chief for contempt
Gonzales clams up on P50M US lobby contract

NATIONAL security adviser Norberto Gonzales was cited in contempt yesterday by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee for his refusal to answer questions related to the P50-million lobby contract he entered into with US law firm Venable LLP.

Gonzales, the highest government official to be cited in contempt by the Senate, was also ordered detained at the Senate until he answers questions, including who funded the contract, who shouldered the $225,000 down payment, and who referred Venable to him.

Opposition and administration senators were convinced Gonzales was covering up for someone when he refused to answer questions, and that he was a fall guy trying to save the face of President Arroyo.

Sana ganyan rin ang ginawa ng mga senators at congressmen nung ayaw rin sumagot nina Jose Pidal, Gen. Carlos Garcia at Iggy Arroyo sa mga hearings na yan.