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DENR chief regrets knowing Lozada - report


Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr regrets the day he met Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr, who was introduced to him by his predecessor, Michael Defensor, former chief of staff of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Atienza told Visayas-based Bombo Radyo that he should have at least done a deep background check on Lozada before taking him in as president of the Philippine Forest Corp (PhilForest), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Lozada is the key witness in the Senate inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the government's $329.48-million National Broadband Network project with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Corp. The radio report quoted Atienza as saying that he did not want to take in Lozada at first because he appeared to be nervous. But he said Defensor, his predecessor at the DENR, "recommended" Lozada for the PhilForest post. Atienza also said he should not have "helped" Lozada when he asked him for "security." He insisted it was Lozada who asked for his help upon his arrival from Hong Kong. Atienza said Lozada was lying when he said he was abducted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on February 5. - GMANews.TV

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