10 senators sign resolution seeking Senate custody of Lozada

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 senators have signed a yet-to-be filed resolution for the Senate to seek custody of NBN- ZTE scandal star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. In an interview with reporters, Senator Francis Escudero said the resolution, once filed and adopted, will make the motion filed by the senators before Manila court an official act of the Senate as an institution. “Iba yung weight ng resolution na Senado ang humihingi ng custody bilang testigo kumpara dun sa individual na senador na hinihiling yun. Mas-malalim, mas-mabigat ang Senado dahil institution [The resolution filed by the Senate as an institution has a greater weight than just a mere petition filed by the senators]," Escudero said. He said Senator Manuel Roxas II authored the resolution “for the Senate, through its lawyers, to ask for the custody of Lozada on recognizance while the case is ongoing." He said the Senate does not encroach into the authority of the court over Lozada with the filing of the resolution. “Dumadaan ang Senado sa proseso ng husgado kaya nga sa pamamagitan ng motion o petition hinihiling ng Senado ang custody, patunay ito na ginagalang ng Senado ang jurisdiction ng court sa kanya [The Senate goes through the process of the court through a motion or petition. This is the proof that the Senate respects the jurisdiction of the court over Lozada]," Escudero said. A part of the resolution read: “Considering the invaluable contribution of Jun Lozada in the name of truth and justice when he courageously offered himself as a witness at the Senate hearings to blow the whistle and reveal his knowledge on the highly irregular and anomalous $329 million NBN-ZTE contract, it is only proper that Jun Lozada be released from MPD (Manila Police District) custody on recognizance of the Senate." On Monday, Roxas, on behalf of the Senate, filed before a Manila court a motion seeking the release of Lozada on Senate recognizance. The motion was signed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and Senators Roxas, Escudero, Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan II, Benigno Aquino III, Rodolfo Biazon and Loren Legarda. In seeking for Lozada’s release on recognizance, the senators cited Section 15, Rule 114 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure which allows the release of a person in custody on “recognizance of a person," which they claim in this case would refer to them. Lozada was arrested on April 29 based on the perjury complaint filed by former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor. - GMANews.TV