Thursday, February 7, 2008

Wanted ZTE Witness Rodolfo Lozada Surfaces



PRESS CONFERENCE of ZTE Witness Jun Lozada at LSGH (MP3)

(2:30 am) I am monitoring a LIVE Press Conference going on in the middle of the night at La Salle Green Hills High School in Mandaluyong City where the wanted ZTE witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada is giving a Press Conference. Flanked by nuns and priests, he seems to be testifying before the Senate already, relating a detailed history of the ZTE National Broadband Deal. Does he think he might not have an official chance after the PNP's picking him up at the Airport?

Check back for Updates and audio...

(2:50 am) Breaking down in tears, he says, "Sometimes, it's worth taking a risk for this country!"
He apologizes for having signed certain affidavits while under police custody yesterday. Mr. Lozada is about to taking questions.

(2:55 am) It appears Mr. Lozada was made to sign certain documents under duress, signed in the company of "nice people", to the effect that he had not talked to any high government official about the ZTE deal but only to low level technicians and engineers.

(updates are in the Comments Section)
...
(3:40 am) The Press Conference is breaking up and it has been announced that Mr. Jun Lozada will be convoyed by the Church personalities present and delivered to the Philippine Senate. He has basically said that the Affidavits he signed were done under duress. He read statement extremely damaging to First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The scene now shifts to the Senate!...

The Philippine National Police is in for some severe criticism in this incident, if not legal sanction. Mr. Lozada said he NEVER requested police protection and was surprised at being met by them at the Airport. This puts the lie to statements of PNP Chief Avelino Razon yesterday and makes the signing of an affidavit to that effect extremely suspect. I am sorely disappointed in him!

17 comments:

Deany Bocobo said...

Am doing updates here for the time stamp...Jun Lozada relates how he was taken for a long ride down the South Luzon Expressway after being picked up at the Airport.

Deany Bocobo said...

He says he doesn't want to attend the Senate hearings because he would not be a good liar. Thus the decision was made to send him out of the country just to avoid the Senate hearing. He voiced his concern to superiors that he may not be able to lie in the Senate. "Yung mga masasaktan kung madikit si FG sa gulong ito"

Deany Bocobo said...

He is pinning ZTE firmly on First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. He cites a time when Chairman Abalos called FG to make sure that the NBN would have a "loan facility."

"Sila ang naguusap."

Deany Bocobo said...

Mr. Lozada apparently requested to be brought to the Christian Brothers house at LSGH last night.

How well I know that House!

I guess he was a La Sallite. Makes one proud!

Deany Bocobo said...

Mr. Lozada realizes and announces he must resign his job with the government. He expresses real fear, claiming to be only a "probinsyanong Intsik" not a JDV who can quit work for a few years and still feed his family. Or an Abalos, who is King in Mandaluyong.

Deany Bocobo said...

Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is apparently aware of the earlier request of Jun Lozada for help from the Church on his predicament.

Deany Bocobo said...

The Press Conference is being MC'd by Brother Armin Luistro, President of De La Salle University.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the blow by blow account.

Shit! This is surreal -- back to that time when Piggy Arroyo had his ex office boy kidnapped or what... also the Hello Garci thing (the padampot threat in the conversation, etc.)

Deany Bocobo said...

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza cannot explain how the "request for security" came to him and the police. No letter and all the man's family denies asking for such. Lozada has denied asking for security also. He keeps saying they just wanted to protect him.

What a big fat liar!

Deany Bocobo said...

Jun Lozada has arrived at the Philippine Senate along with Church an escort of Media and Church. A hearing may actually be held according to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

Deany Bocobo said...

Jun Lozada is resting in Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano's Office. He is with a retinue of nuns and priests and Brother Armin, who won't leave him. He has told the Senator he wants to testify before the Committee as soon as he is physically able to, perhaps later today...

Anonymous said...

"DENR Secretary Lito Atienza cannot explain how the "request for security" came to him and the police. No letter and all the man's family denies asking for such. Lozada has denied asking for security also. He keeps saying they just wanted to protect him.

What a big fat liar!"

Who is the big fat liar, DJB?

manuelbuencamino said...

Buti na lang nagingay ang press at na obstruct ang tarbaho ng pulis kung hindi patay na sana si Lozada.

Deany Bocobo said...

Abangan!

Deany Bocobo said...

mb,
oh but if you wanna argue Manila Pen that was a couple of posts back.

as for the media doing its job, do they deserve a medal? That's what their business is, as you keep reminding us: the right to know-it-all.

But okay, they deserve congratulations, only, no more than anybody else doing their jobs, like the police at the Pen or the taho vendor on the street.

The real institution that has a formal right to know and a right to information is Congress.

That is the principle we should fight for!

manuelbuencamino said...

The pulis at the Pen looted the Pen.

Deany Bocobo said...

MB,
The Media at the Pen screwed the Pooch.