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MANILA — To tell whose testimonies are true, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile asked for a copy of the text messages between ZTE witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. and Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite from the time the ZTE witness was in Hong Kong.

Enrile proposed before the Senate hearing for an authorization from the two witnesses to be addressed to two telecommunication service providers for the downloading of private text messages between them dated February 3.

Gaite said in his earlier statements that he received a text message from Lozada asking help as the resigned president of the Philippine Forest Corp. was running out of money and having a hard time abroad believing that Lozada was in London and not in Hong Kong.

Lozada opposed the statement saying he indicated in his message that he was in Hong Kong as it was explicit to other government officials and his family as well.

Enrile then asked Gaite to present the exact text message in public as Lozada expressed that he will abide with the text message “if it was really came from his cell phone number.” However, Gaite failed to present the original message sent to him by Lozada.

The Senate then decided to ask Globe and Smart to provide them with records of text messages between Gaite and Lozada to clear all the issues on the P500,000 assistance for the Senate witness.

Enrile also proposed that the representatives of the two communication firms to be invited to “authenticate” the messages.

Senator Manuel Roxas backed the proposal and suggested that the envelope should be sealed when handed to the Senate.

However, other Senators and even Lozada believe that text messages could be tampered and they cannot fully rely on the integrity of the texts.

“Anything electronic stored data cannot be really 100 percent secured,” Lozada said.

Senators had a hard time believing the testimonies of Gaite saying P500,000 was unjustifiable amount to just give to someone whom he does not know personally.

Earlier, Gaite said he cannot think of any rational reason for giving half a million to Lozada, whom he met only twice, saying he was only guided by his conscience and faith for such act as he also pitied Lozada that time.

He also said the money was supposed to be used for the renovation of his parents-in-law’s house.

Gaite’s testimony negated Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s statement that the fund was a donation from anonymous sources. (Sunnex)

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