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Thursday, February 07, 2008
Lozada to appear in Senate NBN probe
MANILA (Updated 2 p.m.)- Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada is set to reveal information corroborating earlier testimonies about the scrapped $329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Friday.
Lozada, who is now under the protective custody of the Senate after he surfaced in a 2 a.m. press conference Thursday, was advised by the Senate doctor to take a 24-hour rest to make sure that he will be rested, healthy and safe before he testify in the hearing of the controversial deal.
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"Senate will provide protection for Lozada and other witnesses who want to testify," said Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee. Hearing on the NBN deal will resume 10 a.m. Friday.
"We should see if he is okay. We know that he is very tired of the situation. We will fix everything. As Senate President, I will make sure the testimony of Lozada will run smoothly," Senate President Manuel Villar said.
"We will treat him as a guest and give him a maximum courtesy in the Senate. He is neither a prisoner nor a fugitive. We will try our best to attend to his needs, if he wants to push trough with the hearing or he should have time to rest. We will ask his concerns. His family and friends need not to worry," he said.
The Senate President announced the full protection for Lozada to secure his safety. "As needed, we will not leave our eyes on him (Lozada) and we will assure that at all times, there will be a Senator that will escort and assist him adding that the media and all our security are in full alert to protect him," he said.
Villar added that the Senate is willing to provide security for the family of Lozada if they ask to. "They are not asking for security but we will address their wish if they want," he said.
Other siblings of Lozada are also in the protection of the Senate.
Lozada, a technical government consultant on the US$320 million (euro225 million) broadband contract with a Chinese company, was taken into police custody Tuesday afternoon at Manila's airport after he returned from a trip abroad, in what officials said was a move to protect his life.
Lozada was later released and told a news conference early Thursday that former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., who allegedly acted as a broker for the contract, threatened to kill him if he didn't secure a kickback for him by overpricing the contract by US$130 million (euro89 million).
Lozada has emerged as a key witness in the scandal that exploded last year when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, was implicated in the inquiry.
Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, a losing bidder who later blew the whistle on the deal, told investigators Mike Arroyo was promised a US$70 million (euro48 million) kickback for approving the overpriced contract. Lozada said he met only once with Mike Arroyo and de Venecia.
Abalos quit after the scandal broke last year, and has refused to comment on Lozada's latest accusations that Abalos issued death threats against him.
Opposition senators believe Lozada may be the missing link in their effort to prove the president and her husband were involved in approving the deal, which was eventually scrapped.
Lozada's wife, Violeta, filed a Supreme Court petition Wednesday seeking his release, claiming he was "kidnapped" by authorities to prevent him from testifying on the corruption scandal.
National police Chief Avelino Razon said Wednesday that Lozada was being held at the request of a sibling who sought protective custody for him because "they fear for his safety." He did not say who was threatening Lozada, or who asked that he be placed under protection.
A haggard-looking Lozada surfaced at the 3 a.m. news conference organized by Roman Catholic bishops, saying men he did not know met him at the airport and told him they were sent to pick him up by his boss, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
He said that while in their company, he was "made to sign" affidavits and security requests dated before his arrival to make it appear he had requested police protection. He denied he had requested police protection.
"I'll be a hypocrite if I said I did not get scared," he said.
He said "people who are concerned, those who will get hurt if the first gentleman is linked to this controversy" didn't want him to testify at the Senate.
Arroyo's deputy spokesman, Anthony Golez, said Lozada "was lying," but that he was free to testify. He said the president had nothing to do with Lozada's daylong detention.
Meanwhile, Lozada said he will be leaving his government post after revealing what he knew about the scrapped NBN project,
"It's only right that I resign my government post," Lozada said after disclosing his knowledge about the ZTE deal and realizing the pressure in the situation that he is encountering at present.
"I like my job but after I did now, I guess its right for me to put on record that I am now resigning from my government position as president and CEO of the PFC (Philippine Forest Corporation)," he said.
"Maybe you have heard about the tuba-tuba. We are the ones who have started that. We dispersed lands to the landless. I like my job, very simple, low key job," he added.
Lozada is the current president and CEO of the PFC, which is an agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza. (AP/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (February 7, 2008 issue)
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