Pinoys believe Lozada claims on NBN-ZTE deal, SWS says

MANILA, Philippines - Majority of Filipinos believe key claims made by ZTE deal witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr in connection with the controversial $329.48-million national broadband network deal mess, a survey firm said on Monday. In a statement posted on its website, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said results of its first quarter survey showed that most respondents believe that Lozada was made to leave the country by some government officials to avoid testifying in the Senate probe, and that he was later abducted to avoid his appearance before the Senate. Also, majority of respondents said they believed Lozada when he said resigned Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos asked for a bribe of $130 million dollars from ZTE. SWS said it interviewed with 1,200 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the survey. Survey results have an error margin of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey, SWS noted. Made to leave the country to avoid Senate probe In detailing the results of the survey which was conducted from March 28-31, SWS said three out of five Filipinos believe the testimony of ZTE deal witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr that he was made to leave the country to avoid testifying before the Senate's ZTE investigation. "The March 2008 survey found that 60 percent believe while 31 percent do not believe Lozada's statement that 'he was made to leave the country by some government officials so that he could not testify in the Senate investigation on the government contract with ZTE'," SWS said. SWS noted that this belief was more prevalent in Metro Manila. "Three out of four (75 percent) in Metro Manila, 58 percent in Mindanao, 57 percent in Balance Luzon, and 56 percent in the Visayas believe Lozada's statement that he was made to go abroad by some officials to prevent him from testifying in the Senate investigation on the government contract with ZTE," SWS said. Abducted According to the SWS, survey results also showed that 58 percent of total respondents believe Lozada's statement that, upon his arrival from Hong Kong last February, he was picked up and driven around by unknown men against his will. It noted that an overwhelming number of respondents in Metro Manila expressed belief on this claim. "On Lozada's statement that 'he was picked up against his will upon his arrival from Hong Kong by unknown men, and driven around for several hours to places he did not want to go to,' 58 percent believe it (30 percent strongly believe, 28 percent somewhat believe), and 33 percent do not believe it (23 percent somewhat not believe, 10 percent strongly not believe)," SWS said. "His statement that there was an attempt to abduct him upon his arrival from Hong Kong is believed by 76 percent in Metro Manila, 57 percent in Mindanao, 56 percent in Balance Luzon, and 49 pcrcent in the Visayas," it added. Abalos 'commissions' Based on survey results, most Filipinos were also convinced that Abalos asked for bribes from ZTE Corp. in relation to the national broadband network (NBN) project. "As to his statement that 'former Comelec Chairman Abalos asked for a bribe of $130 million dollars from ZTE,' 54 percent believe it (26 percent strongly believe, 28 percent somewhat believe), and 35 percent do not believe it (23 percent somewhat not believe, 12 percent strongly not believe)," SWS said. Middle class Stronger belief in Lozada was shown among the upper-middle classes, SWS said. "Belief in Lozada's statement that he was made to leave the country by government officials to avoid testifying in the Senate ZTE probe is 70 percent among the upper-middle classes ABC, 61 percent among class D or the masa, and 51 percent among class E," it said. Belief in Lozada's statement about men who tried to abduct him upon his arrival from Hong Kong is 64 percent among classes ABC, 60 percent among class D, and 47 percent among class E believe it. SWS said belief in Lozada statement that former Chairman Abalos asked for a bribe of $130 million from ZTE is 58 percent among class D; 53 percent among classes ABC; and 44 percent among class E. - GMANews.TV