What huge Senate security costs, Lozada asks critics

MANILA, Philippines - ZTE probe witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr on Friday expressed disbelief to claims that the cost of securing him had already run to to huge amounts, even as he appeared tired of living the life of a whistleblower. At the sidelines of a public forum on forced disappearances held at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Makati City, Lozada said he was surprised how the Senate's security costs for securing him would have gone so high. "Ipinagtataka ko nga saan galing yung gastos, hindi naman kami kumukuha ng pera sa kanila (I'm wondering where these cost could be coming from since we were not getting any money from them)," Lozada said. Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr has sought an investigation into the expenses of the Senate in protecting Lozada and other Senate probe witnesses. Pimentel decried the "financial abuse" in the handling of Senate witnesses, who also include Engr. Dante Madriaga. The Senate minority leader expressed shock when he learned that P2 million had been spent for the security arrangements of Lozada and Madriaga. This has prompted the Senate to reduce Lozada's security detail to two personnel. In the chance interview, Lozada said he can do nothing with the Senate's decision to lessen his security detail, and even said he just wanted to return to his normal life. "Gusto ko na ng normal na buhay, ang hirap e (I really want to go back to living a normal life. It's hard living this way)," Lozada said. - GMANews.TV