By Anthony Taberna
ABS-CBN News
ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson has offered to pay for the P60,000 bail of NBN-ZTE deal whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jnr and his brother, Jose Orlando.
A source said that even before the Sandiganbayan issued the arrest warrant for the Lozadas, the senator already took P60,000 from his own pocket for bail money.
Lacson confirmed the news but said the Lozadas did not ask him for help. He said he wants to help Lozada after he exposed the anomalies in the botched National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with Chinese telecommunications firm, ZTE Corp., during the Arroyo administration.
“Linawin ko lang na sarili kong pera hindi [Senate] MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses),” he said.
“Yung ginawa niya, malaking tulong sa bayan. Ayaw kong magkaroon siya ng feeling na inabandon siya after all this time. Noong araw, agaw-agawan kaming mga senador sa pagkontak sa kaniya, talagang hot commodity,” he added.
Lozada thanked Lacson for his unwavering support but said it is the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) where he is staying that will pay for his bail.
“Under the sanctuary program I am in, AMRSP shall be carrying the burden of paying for my bail. Once again, the family thanks Sen. Lacson for his support,” Lozada said in a text message.
Lozada earlier exposed the overpricing of the $329 million NBN-ZTE contract. His revelation forced then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to rescind the deal.
The Sandiganbayan recently issued an arrest order for Lozada and his brother for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Lozada allegedly awarding the leasehold right of a 6,599 hectare land to his brother when he was still president of the Philippine Forest Corporation, a government-owned corporation.
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Cayetano: Lozada must be given immunity
By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 02/08/2013 7:30 PM | Updated as of 02/08/2013 7:30 PM
MANILA – The Aquino government must grant immunity from suits to Jun Lozada, the whistleblower in the National Broadband Network (NBN) scandal during the Arroyo administration, who now faces an arrest warrant, Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano said on Friday.
Cayetano called the issuance by the Sandiganbayan of an order to arrest Lozada on graft charges “a very sad day” for the Aquino administration.
“The Ombudsman can always withdraw the case. They can always give him immunity or they can use him as a state witness,” Cayetano told reporters on Friday.
“I don’t know whether he’s guilty or innocent, but I believe in him.”
Cayetano added that Lozada should have been given immunity long ago, and that what happened to him may discourage people from exposing anomalies in government.
“If you were in his position now and know a scam in government, would you now become a whistleblower? No,” Cayetano said.
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