MANILA, Philippines—The First Couple will not be spared by the Senate blue ribbon committee for their liability in the National Broadband Network (NBN) scandal.

Indeed, most of those involved in the scandal will be recommended for criminal prosecution, according to Sen. Richard Gordon, the committee chair.

Gordon said both President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo would be asked to explain their participation in the scuttled NBN project.

“They have a lot to explain,” Gordon told reporters.

He denied that he was out to seek the prosecution of whistle-blowers like Jose de Venecia III and Rodolfo Lozada Jr., as the former Speaker’s son and namesake had claimed.

He said, however, that the De Venecias would be recommended for prosecution along with Benjamin Abalos Sr., Romulo Neri and even Lozada.

Lozada may turn state witness “if he doesn’t want to be prosecuted,” Gordon said.

He said the others to be recommended for prosecution were Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and former Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite.

The senator said Ms Arroyo should explain why she took part in the golf game hosted by ZTE officials in the office headquarters in Shenzhen, China, in 2006, and why she did not chide or stop her people who were fighting over the NBN contract.

“Didn’t I say she is a captive leader by her people? They were all fighting. She should have stopped them,” he said.

He also wondered why the President pushed ahead with her trip to China to witness the signing of the supply agreement with ZTE when her husband was then very sick at home.

As for Mike Arroyo, he has to explain why the people involved in the scandal were all approaching him, Gordon said.

But he said there was no clear evidence against the man.

Told that the perception was that Mike Arroyo had intervened in the project, Gordon said: “I believe that, but can I prove it?”