palayain si jun

Free Lozada movement on

NBN-ZTE whistle-blower arrested, won’t post bail

By Allison Lopez, DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:36:00 04/30/2009

Filed Under: Politics, Crime and Law and Justice, Government, Graft & Corruption, NBN deal, Crime


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Close this MANILA, Philippines—The arresting officers of whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada used a “password” Wednesday to gain entry to the La Salle Greenhills campus in Mandaluyong City, where Lozada and his family had been staying under the protection of nuns for more than a year.

The password was “Birthday party sa Cebrero.”

Surrounded by supporters, Lozada was arrested on perjury charges on the strength of a warrant issued by a Manila judge, just one of his 16 legal battles since he blew the whistle on the scrapped National Broadband Network-ZTE deal more than a year ago.

He told a Senate probe last year that the $329-million deal between the government and China’s ZTE Corp. was overpriced by $130 million, way beyond the normal ceilings, to accommodate hefty commissions.

The warrant was based on the charges filed by former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor.

Lozada did not resist arrest and was accompanied by Sr. Mary John Mananzan, chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), in the police car, which took him to the Manila Police District (MPD) for booking, fingerprinting and the taking of mug shots.

No handcuffs

Upon the request of Mananzan, who promised no resistance from any of them, Lozada was not handcuffed.

“My sense of justice is completely shattered,” Lozada told reporters before his arrest at about 3:20 p.m.

The arresting officers from the MPD warrant and subpoena section, Alfredo Valenzuela and Pedro Flores, showed and read to Lozada parts of the arrest warrant issued by Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo, and the Miranda rights.
His lawyer, Jose Manuel Diokno, stood beside him as the officers read him his rights.

Rizal’s image

Earlier in the day, while waiting for the arresting officers, Lozada had worn a white-collared shirt and brown shorts. But by the time the police arrived, he had changed into a black novelty shirt with Jose Rizal’s image and the words “Pepe goes to market.”

In an interview before his arrest, Lozada had said he was prepared to be arrested and would not post bail as a sign of protest. A P6,000 bail had been recommended by the court for his conditional release.

Hours before, Lozada briefly left his quarters to watch one of his young sons play on the school football field, where a soccer event was taking place.

Security was tight at the De La Salle Greenhills campus. Reporters camped out at the compound had to get permission from Lozada’s five-man security team to gain entry. Many of them had been waiting for the arrest since Tuesday evening.

Even the arresting officers had to utter a password before they could enter, said Sr. Estrella Castalone, AMRSP executive secretary.

Password explained

Asked to explain the “Birthday party sa Cebrero” password, Castalone said in jest: “For the sake of art ... Doesn’t it look like a party here?”

A security guard later said “Cebrero” meant Cebrero Hall, a venue for assemblies and meetings in the Brothers House Community Building where Lozada and his family had been staying. But the police officer, who was driving the mobile, refused to confirm if he had used the password to enter the compound.

The officers had to wait about 30 minutes before Lozada came down to meet them since Lozada’s camp wanted Diokno to be with him during the arrest.

Before the arrest, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, former chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee that investigated the NBN-ZTE deal, arrived and talked to Lozada in his quarters on the third floor of the building.

Renato Reyes, secretary general of the left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (bayan), also came to support Lozada.

“We want to make sure that every day someone will visit him while he’s detained. Not only to ensure his safety but also to show the public there’s overwhelming support for his cause,” Reyes said.

A van full of AMRSP nuns and other supporters followed the police car, as well as another vehicle with some of Lozada’s family members on their way to the MPD. The service vehicle of the Senate security team also joined the convoy.

Scared

Interviewed by phone while in the police car, Lozada said he was feeling scared and apprehensive as it was the first time that he was being arrested.

He rued that ironically, he was the one being haled to court while the officials who allegedly manipulated the NBN-ZTE contract remained scot-free.

“It’s also sad because only I, among the many who were involved in the deal, am being punished, while FG (the First Gentleman), (former elections chair Benjamin) Abalos are not yet being charged,” he said. Abalos was accused of brokering the deal for ZTE in exchange for a commission. He denied the accusation.

Lozada maintained that he would not post bail for perjury. “This is the only way I can mount a protest that is not against the law,” he said.

Surreal

Upon his arrival at the MPD headquarters on United Nations Avenue, Lozada was immediately hounded by media people, who followed him from his medical checkup at the nearby infirmary to the warrants section where his fingerprints and mug shots were taken.

“It’s my first time here ... it’s surreal,” a red-eyed Lozada told reporters. He said he was treated well by the arresting team.

At past 5 p.m., Chief Insp. Dominador Arevalo, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said his men were still waiting if the court would issue a commitment order for Lozada to be moved to the cramped Manila City Jail.

He said that if there was no commitment order by 6 p.m., Lozada would be transferred to the cells of the Detective Jail and Management Section, where people waiting for commitment orders are detained.

Lozada’s supporters, however, protested and were able to convince police officials to let Lozada stay in a small, non-air-conditioned room instead of being placed beside “common criminals.”

Travesty

“It’s a travesty. While Mike Defensor and his family go to Las Vegas to watch the Pacquiao fight, this man who is telling the truth is going to jail. What arrogance,” said Leah Navarro, a convenor of the Black and White Movement.

Authorities will only allow visitors from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

At the MPD, Diokno, Cayetano, Reyes, Rep. Joel Villanueva of Cibac, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, and Manila City legal officer Renato de la Cruz showed their support for Lozada.

Bail money from Mayor Lim

Reyes said Lozada’s supporters from the religious, civic and activist groups may hold vigils outside the MPD to show encouragement for the whistle-blower.

De la Cruz said that Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim had given him P6,000 in cash for Lozada’s bail, but that Lozada declined to use it.

Police allowed Mananzan and Castalone to stay with Lozada in the room for the night. With a report from Dona Pazzibugan