Lozada surrenders to police in Camp Crame

MANILA (Updated) -- NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. on Monday turned himself in to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City instead of waiting for an arrest warrant to be served on him.

The Sandiganbayan ordered Lozada's arrest two weeks ago in connection with the graft cases filed against him for his grant of leasehold rights to his brother and a private company connected with his wife in 2009 when he was then president and chief executive officer of the state-run Philippine Forest Corporation.

Lozada is one of the key witnesses in the graft charges filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, former poll chief Benjamin Abalos Sr., former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and former National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) chief Romulo Neri, based on the botched USD 9-million NBN project signed by the government with China's ZTE Corporation in 2007.

Lozada, accompanied by members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), arrived at the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headquarters in Camp Crame at 7 a.m.

Lozada was to undergo booking procedures at Camp Crame, although AMRSP executive secretary Fr. Marlon Lacal said they are ready to post bail for him.

The AMRSP has been providing Lozada protection after armed came looking for him in his house last week.

The CIDG, however, said Lozada is also expected to post bail today amounting to P30,000 regarding his graft charges.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima earlier ordered an investigation of the alleged incident where some individuals who identified themselves as operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) went into Lozada’s house and “harassed” his helpers.

The secretary said that no member of the NBI is tasked by the court to issue a warrant of arrest to Lozada.

In relation to this, Malacañang denied that it proposed to lift Lozada’s case from the Ombudsman.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the current administration is not the one who gives immunity to Lozada.

Valte added that it is best follow the legal process and let the court decide on the whistleblower’s case. (PNA/Sunnex)

Note: Lozada posted bail of P30,000 instead of the P60,000 earlier reported