Lozada asks High Court to reopen amparo petition

MANILA, Philippines - Jun Lozada, the star witness in the NBN-ZTE scandal, appeared before the Supreme Court Tuesday to ask that his petition for a writ of amparo, which was earlier dismissed by the Court of Appeals, be reconsidered. Lozada's petition was earlier dismissed by the apellate court. Lozada and his siblings, Violeta and Arturo, asked the court to protect them from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon, Angel Atutubo and SPO4 Roger Valeroso. Lozada's lawyer, Neri Colmenares, said the Court of Appeals did not order Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and former director Romulo Neri to be cross-examined. Colmenares wanted a protection order for his clients from the respondents and other people mentioned by Lozada during his testimony at the Senate. Lozada said they are in a fighting mood and will exhaust all legal means possible for the truth to come out. - Carlo Lorenzo, GMA News