Malacañang officials tried to stop Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. from testifying in the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal by sending him to Hong Kong on a contrived official trip.
When he decided to come back last Tuesday, the officials staged his abduction at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on the basis of a cooked-up request for protection by Lozada.
Lozada told yesterday’s Senate hearing that his trip to Hong Kong last Jan. 30 was the idea of Deputy Executive Secretary Manny Gaite.
He said Palace officials decided that he should leave for Hong Kong after hitting a dead-end on the legal remedy to prevent him from appearing at the Senate.
He said it was made to appear that he would be attending a seminar in London.
He said his travel authority was also antedated because the seminar was scheduled on February 3.
Lozada said when the arrest order for him came out on Jan. 30, he consulted acting Higher Education chair Romulo Neri.
He said Neri assured him that Malacañang would take care of everything.
While in Hong Kong, Lozada said he was instructed by Neri to write a letter to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to convince him to withdraw the Senate arrest order. He said Neri told him what to put in his letter through a text message.
He said received a call from Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza to cut short his trip and return on February 5 instead of February 7.
The Philippine Forest Corp. of which Lozada is president, is under the DENR.
“Sabi niya, ‘kailan ka ba dapat umuwi?’ February 7? So umuwi ka na ng February 5. Don’t take yung maraming tao. Yung alanganing oras ka umuwi,” Lozada recalled.
When Lozada inquired about the Senate warrant, Atienza said Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan had already been informed about his arrival and he would be allowed to pass through immigration without a hitch.
He said that while in the company of four “military-looking” armed men who took him from the airport Tuesday, they stopped by a gas station in Laguna.
Lozada said it was there when he was instructed by one of the men to write a letter showing that he requested for a security detail.
He said by then, the men had already received instructions to bring him back to Metro Manila because of the media hype on his supposed abduction.
Lozada said that after writing the request, he was told that he would be turned over to the police.
While in transit, he said Atienza called up saying “Jun, huwag kang mag-alala. Relax ka lang. Mga tao natin ‘yan. Relax ka lang.”
Lozada said Neri called up asking him to calm his wife, Violeta who had become hysterical upon learning of his disappearance.
“Sabi niya, ‘Jun, patahimikin mo. Calm, calm your wife down. Calm your wife down. They’re panicking in the media.”
When asked by Neri to call up his wife, Lozada said: “Sir, she cannot calm down. I have to go. She has to see me. Hindi titigil iyon.”
Lozada said he was turned over Tuesday night to a group led by a certain “Atty. Antonio Bautista” and a “Col. Paul Mascariñas” in a restaurant in Libis.
Lozada said Bautista introduced himself as Neri’s lawyer and took his testimony to be made into an affidavit.
He said after Bautista got hold of his testimony, he was able to convince them that he be taken to La Salle Greenhills instead of their original destination, which was the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City , to avoid the swarm of media.
He said it was at the La Salle Greenhills compound that he was reunited with his family.
He noticed, however, that the four men who took him from the airport did not leave the compound.
He said the next day, Mascariñas and his men brought to him to the office of Bautista to sign the affidavit.
He said Bautista said it would give “comfort level” to Malacañang if he signed the affidavit. He said he was also asked to sign a typewritten letter purportedly showing that he had asked the PNP leadership for protection.
“So lahat po ng isubo nila sa akin, I had to sign,” Lozada said.
When he was brought back to La Salle Greenhills, Lozada said his sister, Carmen, told him she was made to sign a separate letter request after Malacañang and police officials appear to clash in their versions of his request for police protection.
Lozada said he called up PNP chief Avelino Razon to apologize that his name was being dragged into his alleged disappearance.
Razon received flak for confirming that Lozada was in the custody of the Police Security and Protection Office.
“He was forced to say a lie. So naawa ako sa kanya actually. I know he’s a good man but napipilitan pa siyang magsinungaling,” he said.
Lozada said former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor went to see him Wednesday evening at the La Salle Greenhills dormitory.
He said Defensor told him to immediately call a press conference to deny that he was abducted but he begged off saying he did not want to talk anymore.
“And he was so gracious. Sabi ni Mike, ‘Oh eto panggastos-gastos,’” Lozada said.
Lozada said he thought about the press conference and consulted the sisters and brothers at the La Salle Greenhills compound.
“Mga alas dose na po iyon. Nagdesisyon po ako, which really made my wife freak out, na I will just go to the Senate na lang. I will submit myself to the Senate panel. Enough of this, sabi ko. Hindi na ko makikisali sa mga pinapapirmahan sa akin.”
Lozada said his “security detail” left him after he gave a press conference past 2 a.m. Thursday and after the Senate arresting teams arrived at the La Salle compound.
‘THERE WAS NO REQUEST’
Carmen Lozada, in a radio interview, denied ever asking security assistance from the PNP as well as signing a request form seeking help from the Police Security and Protection Office.
“Bakit naman ako hihingi ng tulong sa mga pumatay sa kapatid ko? Gusto ko lang linawain na hindi PNP at lalong hindi ang gobyerno ang hinihingiang naming ng tulong,” Carmen said.
Fernando Lozada was killed in 2001 by police who mistook him for a kidnapper.
Carmen clarified it was the Association of Major Religious Superiors which they asked for help as Jun was worried about the Senate arrest order.
Razon had said that it was Carmen who sought assistance from the PSPO.
He added Lozada formalized his request by executing his own request letter upon arrival from Hong Kong.
Carmen said it was unfair for Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to blame the Las Salle Brothers for not informing the public that Lozada was with them. “Humingi na nga kami ng sanctuary sa La Salle Brothers tapos sisisihin pa nila.”
Razon, in an interview, wondered why the Lozadas are singing a different tune.
“Hindi naman tayo nagsisinungaling sinasabi lang natin ang totoong nangyari na si Jun Lozada ay nag-request ng security detail ito ay pinakita sa sulat ng kanyang kapatid na si Carmen Lozada at mismong sa kanyang sulat kamay na ginawa niya on his own volition,” he said.
Razon said he is willing to defend before the Senate inquiry the security provided to Lozada from the NAIA up to La Salle Greenhills even to the extent of defying Executive Order 464.
PROVE ACCUSATIONS
Palace officials dared Lozada to prove his claim that members of the administration may have been aware of supposed moves to prevent him from testifying in the Senate.
Deputy spokespersons Anthony Golez and Lorelei Fajardo said it very easy to drag or even mention names.
“Iyung pagdadawit ng pangalan ng Pangulo, ni (Executive) Secretary (Eduardo) Ermita at kahit na sino pa, madaling sabihin iyun kung walang ebidnesya. So mahirap tayong mag-implicate ng kung sino-sino ng walang direct evidence,” Golez said.
Lozada, in his testimony yesterday, claimed that after his pre-dawn press conference Thursday that someone on behalf of President Arroyo was trying to talk to him.
Fajardo said even Lozada however, was not sure if indeed the “Ma’am” or “Madam” that was referred to in these accounts was indeed the President.
Golez and Fajardo reiterated that if there is evidence to prove that the personalities mentioned were involved in anomalies or irregularities, they should bring it to the courts.
Golez and Fajardo also said that they have not yet talked to Undersecretary Remedios Poblador who was identified by Lozada as directing him to write a letter to Sen. Enrile to inform him that he has no knowledge about the NBN deal.
They also denied that a certain “Attorney Bautista” was connected with the government particularly with the office of deputy executive secretary Manuel Gaite.
Golez and Fajardo declined to comment on a supposed statement of Bautista asking Lozada to sign the document “for the comfort of Malacañang.”
Gaite was not available for comment.
Atienza said Lozada may have withheld more volatile information in his testimony.
“Ang narinig ko sa pagkakasalaysay nya sa akin ay grabeng-grabe. Pero wala akong narinig kanina (in the Senate inquiry),”Atienza said.
Lozada had quoted Atienza as telling him: “Naku, pag sinabi mong lahat yan eh baka ibigay mo ang gobyerno sa oposisyon.”
“Meron syang sinabi sa akin na di nya sinabi (at the Senate inquiry). Siguro sya lang nakakaalam noon. I cannot speak for him,” Atienza said. – Dennis Gadil, Raymond Africa, Victor Reyes, Jocelyn Montemayor and Job Realubit
ozada may know some aspects of the ZTE deal, that much is true…
if indeed this is the first time the opposition senators heard Lozada’s testimony – it seems strange to me that when i watched the interrogation and listened to it on the radio – it seems that the opposition senators already knew Lozada’s answers and was merely asking their questions for the benefit of the media….
then it occured to me…
Lozada was really meant to be portrayed as an innocent, Lozada was meant to be killed in order to precipitate chaos.. and hence be the basis for a shift in power.
perhaps those men who “abducted” Lozada at the airport in fact saved his life. if Lozada was ordered killed those men who “abducted” him had every chance to do so and make it look like an accident – or he could have been erased much like Bubby Dacer was. I dont think the “heat” of media coverage would be enough to divert such a kill order.
just my two cents.
Mother of all battles, lahat pala takot kay Misis!
too true kgg dodong, kaya nga ayoko mag asawa he he he
Thanks, Ellen, for this and other stories on this Lozada Saga. I’m archiving them, and analize them as I try to play detective using the expertise that I have been trained in as an interpreter/translator cum investigator at the police in Tokyo. Buti na lang closely knit ang pamilya ni Lozada and his statements are strongly corroborated by his sister, et al kaya wala na glusot si Mike Bigtime Dorobo! Kaya tignan mo ang bilis ng mga pakawala ng mga dorobo.
Meanwhile, magkano kaya ang bayad ni Defensor for acting as tsimoy of the Dorobos? Ex na yan ha, nakadikit pa rin pala sa palda ni Gloria Dorobo. Totoo kaya iyong balita?
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Saan? Sa Palasyo ng kadiliman at immoralidad.
“if indeed this is the first time the opposition senators heard Lozada’s testimony – it seems strange to me that when i watched the interrogation and listened to it on the radio – it seems that the opposition senators already knew Lozada’s answers and was merely asking their questions for the benefit of the media….”
Of course not, Lacson knew Lozada since December and he was responsible for making him a witness. They also had the whole day Thursday to talk to him. And I don’t like the way you slant these things Happy Gilmore, we’re not stupid not to know that these questions had to be asked not because of the media, but because these had to be put on record. Media’s presence is secondary.
But it’s your choice to go the way Miriam did yesterday. What a bitch. You have the right to fool yourself. I won’t stop you from doing so.
TongueT,
Kaya huwag kang magtaka kung patuloy ang panloloko ng gobyerno ni Arroyo, kasi may mga taong nagpapaloko maski obvious na bulok-na-bulok ang style nila!
just my two cents. (Happy Gilmore)
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Agreed. Two cents nga.
I wish the govt recovers the money spent on Lozada’s renegade trip to Hong Kong and the other trips in the guise of official trips.
one thing remains – that these accusations be brought to court. kung puro senate inquiry / investigation yan – walang patutunguhan yan. the perpetrators are still free. dapat sa korte dalhin ang mga ebidensya – let it withstand the scrutiny of the judicial rules on evidence….
Appy Gilmore, our judicial system is also so so corrupt! Even the Supreme Court in filled up with appointees of the DOROBO! Do not expect a just verdict on any case!
Kgg Parasabayan
if we cannot trust the courts of justice – then papaano na tayo?
would you prefer anarchy? where people act like cavemen and result to “an eye for an eye”? where there is no rule of law?
the thing is for – order and freedom to exist – we must respect and strengthen our institutions.
Ito ang HTML na salin ng http://www.pnp.gov.ph/press/press/content/news/2002/MAY/
pnpigissuespublic_16may2002.pdf.
Kusang gumagawa ng mga html na salin ang G o o g l e para sa mga dokumento na nahanap namin sa web.
Upang ma-link o i-bookmark ang pahinang ito, gamitin ang sumusunod na url:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:GkVw2nEcU8QJ:www.pnp.gov.ph/press/press/content/
news/2002/MAY/pnpigissuespublic_16may2002.pdf+%22fernando+lozada%22%2Bpolice&hl=tl&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=ph&client=firefox-a
fernando lozada police
Page 1
PNPIG ISSUES PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR MISTAKEN
ENCOUNTER
The PNP Intelligence Group has formally apologized to the families of the late Fernando Lozada and Marian Uson for “their unfortunate death and for the consequent immeasurable suffering of their families and love ones.”
In a statement issued coinciding with the first death anniversary tomorrow (May 17) of Lozada and Uson, the PNP Intelligence Group expressed its “deepest and sincerest public apologies.”
Both were killed under accidental circumstances during a police anti kidnapping operation in Quezon City last year.
In is public apology, the PNP Intelligence Group took responsibility for the incident even as it vowed to initiate measures to avoid similar situations in future police operations.
“While the PNP Intelligence Group bears the full responsibility for the incident, it hopes that the incident shall and not be repeated in the future where citizens’ lives are needless lost.”
“The PNPIG continues to struggle to restore the people’s faith in its sworn duty of protecting the innocent and to reconcile with the families of those whose lives have been needlessly lost in the course of its, honest attempt to carry out its sworn duty,” the Intelligence
Group said in the statement.
They aded” “The PNPIG cannot say how people feel and think of their organization. It can only plead for understanding for the tragic and accidental results of the police operation, just like the Fernando Lozada and Marian Uson incident.”
would you prefer anarchy? where people act like cavemen and result to “an eye for an eye”? where there is no rule of law?
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Ganoon na nga hindi ba? Ask the families of the late Judge Henrick Gingoyon, Cong. Bersamin and the dead journalists.
the thing is for – order and freedom to exist – we must respect and strengthen our institutions.
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Order ni Gloria, freedom of the police, according to Dean Bocobo; and we strengthen the institutions by bribing them to strengthen their resolve in protecting the briber.
Ang sipag mo. Para kang Ronnie Nathanielz noong panahon ni Macoy.
Believe naman ako kay General Razon sa kanyang paninindigan na hindi raw kinidnap itong si Mr. Lozada, binigyan lang daw ng security ng PNP as requested. Is mamang pulis telling the truth or nag-ma-maangmaangan lang? May God enlighten your mind so you may speak and act with the truth. May panahon pa sir…
happy gilmore Says:
February 9th, 2008 at 10:58 am
one thing remains – that these accusations be brought to court. kung puro senate inquiry / investigation yan – walang patutunguhan yan. the perpetrators are still free. dapat sa korte dalhin ang mga ebidensya – let it withstand the scrutiny of the judicial rules on evidence…
The abduction is criminal in nature. It is the police who should investigate and file the case with the courts, aided by a fiscal. And since there were government officials, secretaries at that, the Ombudsman must also commence its own investigation.
Instead of telling it to us, why don’t you tell it to Gloria and her syndicate she calls government?
Happy Gilmore, are you born yesterday?spilling beans are risky job to do,w/c court u’r talking about basketball,volleyball or tennis,maybe court of monkeys?there a lot of things to stop a person to spill the beans you buy it or bag it.Since MR.Lozada are now unstoppable for his actions,the concerned parties in the bind will find ways to stop him,they will throw all the books at him,that’s been expected.