PNP chief insists Lozada, sibling sought PNP protection

While his brother denied asking security from the Philippine National Police, engineer Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr - the missing witness in the ZTE national broadband network deal - and another sibling did. PNP Director General Avelino Razon insisted in a radio interview Wednesday night that Lozada and one of the latter’s siblings have written to the PNP requesting for security assistance. "Lozada formalized his request and gave a hand-written [and signed] request," Razon said. Lozada and his sibling are both in police custody, according to Razon. The police official said that one of Lozada's 13 siblings dropped by the PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City Tuesday night to make the request. "Nung una po yung kapatid niya ni-relay yung kanyang pangamba. Pumunta siya dito kahapon at pagdating gumawa rin po siya ng request," Razon added. Razon declined to identify the sibling and the whereabouts of Lozada for security reasons. However, Razon confirmed that indeed four policemen from the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) fetched Lozada at the airport on Tuesday afternoon. Lozada's brother Arthur had claimed that none among their siblings contacted the PNP to seek police protection. "Tinanong ko ang mga kapatid ko. Wala raw sa kanilang nag-request ng security para sa kapatid namin (I asked my siblings. None of them said they requested for security for our brother)," Art told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. "Iyan po ang statement ni Mr Art Lozada, pero iba ang sinabi ni Mr Jun Lozada sa amin," Razon said. Also Wednesday, the Black and White Movement held a rally in front of the Senate building, blasting the police for hiding Lozada. Senators Panfilo Lacson and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III reportedly joined the demonstrators. - GMANews.TV