ZTE whistleblower Lozada arrested over perjury charge

MANILA, Philippines – Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr, the man who blew the whistle on the allegedly anomalous $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp. that was linked to First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, was arrested over perjury charges lodged by former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor. A team from the Manila Police District on Wednesday afternoon served the arrest warrant against Lozada at the De la Salle Greenhills in San Juan City. SPO3 Pablo Flores of the MPD Warrant and Subpoena Section said Lozada would be taken to the MPD headquarters. “We’ll just prepare the documentation," Flores said in an interview on dzBB radio. Lozada gave himself up to the arresting officers after lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno arrived and made sure that the arresting process was followed correctly. “Kahit isang abogado ay makarating to make sure that everything is correct. Sasama naman ako nang matiwasay [I only need a lawyer to make sure that everything is correct. I would accept the arrest warrant without qualms]," Lozada in a separate interview on dzBB radio earlier. Sister Mary John Mananzan, chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), accompanied Lozada inside the police mobile patrol car headed for the MPD headquarters. Trailing behind the police car were the vehicles of the Senate sergeant-at-arms and the AMRSP. Defensor’s defense Defensor insisted that Lozada’s arrest was not politically-motivated. “Inuulit ko ho na ‘di ko nais ipakulong si Mr. Lozada [I want to reiterate that I do not want Mr. Lozada jailed]. My only intent is to clear my name and (my lawyer) was the one who filed the necessary charges. This is not political for me," Defensor said in a press conference earlier in the day. Defensor also claimed Lozada committed perjury by giving conflicting testimonies against him during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the NBN-ZTE controversy and during the Court of Appeals’ hearing on Lozada’s petition for the issuance of a writ of amparo. “Magkaiba 'yung sinasabi niya…If I don’t correct and amend it, di habang-buhay ko na kakargahin ito at ng mga anak ko [He gave conflicting testimonies. If I don’t correct and amend it, my children and I will carry the stigma for the rest of our lives]," Defensor said. Defensor, defeated administration senatorial bet in the 2007 polls, likewise said the Arroyo administration was not out to harass Lozada. “I appeal to the public this administration is not against Lozada," he said. Lozada accepted Defensor’s supposed “washing of hands" off the matter but maintained that he would stand by his claims. “Ginagalang ko 'yung karapatan ni Mike Defensor na maglinis ng pangalan niya at ako, handa rin ako na panindigan ('yung sinabi ko) [I respect Defensor’s right to clear his name. But like him, I am standing by my claims," Lozada said. “Papanindigan ko na ginagawa lang niya ito para pagtakpan yung krimen ni Gloria Arroyo dito sa NBN-ZTE deal sa bayan [I will stand by my claim that Defensor is covering up for the crime that President Arroyo committed to the Filipino people through this NBN-ZTE deal]," he said. Malacañang had repeatedly denied that Presidaent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was involved in the multi-million dollar broadband deal, which became controversial in 2007 after allegations of overpricing hounded the Philippine government's project with Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. Mrs. Arroyo's husband and public officials like former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos and former National Economic Development Authority chair Romulo Neri were dragged into the mess. All have since denied involvement in the scandal. - Sophia M. Dedace, GMANews.TV