Atutubo's lawyer delays submission of affidavit on Lozada allegations

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyers for an airport official linked to the alleged abduction of ZTE deal witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr on Thursday opted to reschedule their submission of their affidavit after a footage of Lozada being escorted out of the airport was submitted to the panel. The move during the Department of Justice investigation into allegations that government men tried to abduct Lozada at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on February 5 upon his arrival from a trip to Hong Kong. Lozada is a Senate witness on the $239.48-million ZTE scandal, a controversy sparked by Lozada's allegations of involvement of some ranking government officials and members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. On Thursday, Atty. Edwin Lacierda, Lozada's counsel, submitted to the panel copies of the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage showing Lozada being escorted by police and airport security personnel out of the airport. Atutubo's counsels led by Atty. Joven Lorenzo at first tried to stop Lozada's camp from submitting the CCTV footage to the panel, saying they want to first view the footage before submitting their affidavits. But their move to block the submission of the footage failed. Atutubo's lawyers were however allowed to reschedule his submission of affidavit so that he can view the footage. In that video, Atutubo and Valeroso were seen escorting Lozada. Atutubo allegedly even made mock gestures of slashing his neck with his fingers, apparently a silent order for those monitoring the video to cut the CCTV airing. Aside from Atutubo, other respondents in the suit were PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza. Other respondents were Chief Supt. Romeo Hinnomen and Sr/Supt. Paul Mascarinas of the PNP Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO), and SPO4 Roger Valeroso. On Thursday, the government officials denied that they tried to abduct Lozada, insisting that it was Lozada who sought assistance. Present during the DOJ hearing, presided by Senior State Prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos, were respondents Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, NAIA assistant general manager Angel Atutubo and some police and airport security personnel, while Police Director Gen. Avelino Razon was represented by Atty. Felixberto Verano. Razon's lawyer told the panel that his client did not order the kidnapping of Lozada and was merely protecting the latter from threats as requested by Atienza. Verano said that his client merely extended protection to the controversial witness after a request from Atienza, who claimed that Lozada was seeking protection for himself and his family as unidentified persons were threatening him with bodily harm due to his participation in the $329-million ZTE broadband deal. He further claimed also said that the kidnapping allegations made by Lozada against his client is merely an "embellishment from beginning to end" to make his expose sound creditable. Razon earlier said that he regretted helping Lozada by "securing" him upon his return from Hong Kong and should have left him at the Naia and allowed Senate sheriffs to serve an arrest order on him last February 5. Razon and Atutubo have until April 8 to submit their respective counter-affidavit. The DENR secretary for his part also said that he was unaware that Lozada did not go to London conference as earlier stated. "I attended this investigation so that the truth will surface," he said. The panel then said that all camps are required to submit their replies by April 17 and their rejoinders April 27. - GMANews.TV