Family fears for ex-sarge’s life
by Jay Chua
The PNP Aviation Security Group has placed SP04 Rodolfo Valeroso, a retired Army master sergeant who escorted ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. upon his arrival from Hong Kong last Feb. 5, in a “safehouse” for his safety.
Chief Supt. Atilano Morada, head of the PNP Aviation Security Group, however, said Valeroso is “not in hiding” and will “surface in due time.”
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Sen. Joker Arroyo Monday lectured whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. on his supposed inconsistencies and lack of fairness and took a surprise hit in return.
At the Senate inquiry into the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network deal, Arroyo questioned Lozada on his family’s motives for filing petitions for writs of amparo and habeas corpus even when he was already free.
The administration senator also questioned Lozada’s alleged bias for certain senators, and TV networks.
by JP Lopez
Malaya
Government and police officials yesterday failed to convince senators that ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. was not abducted as the lawmakers saw a clear effort by the executive branch to prevent him from testifying.
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, PNP chief Avelino Razon and Alfonso Cusi, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, said Lozada was not kidnapped to prevent him from testifying.
Senate President Manny Villar said he took exception to testimonies of the law enforcement and airport officials that they were securing Lozada from possible harm.
Noong Oktubre 2006, pagkatapos lumabas si Romy Neri, dating director-general ng NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) kung saan ibinulgar niya ang offer sa kanya ni dating Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos ng P200 milyon para lang aprubahan ang ma-anomalyang NBN/ZTE deal ngunit pinrotektahan niya si Gloria Arroyo, sumulat si Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada ng kanyang saloobin tungkol sa isyu.
Alam na natin kung sino si Jun Lozada. Matalik na kaibigan ni Neri na kinuha niyang consultant sa mga proyekto sa NEDA. Si Lozada ay presidente ng Philippine Forest Corporation ngunit nag-resign siya noong isang linggo nang magdesisyon siya na magsabi ng totoo tungkol sa nalalaman niya sa kurakutan sa $349 milyon na kontrata ng NBN/ZTE.
The Catholic bishops’ leadership has called on for ‘communal action’ following Rodolfo Lozada’s expose on alleged corruption involving top public officials.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said it’s about time to liberate the country that has long been ‘captive’ to government corruption.
Lagdameo said the “confession” recently made Lozada and ousted House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. may save people from being “hostage to scandalous and shady government deals.”
I grant that when Gloria Arroyo was directing the manipulation of the results of the 2004 elections, her primary desire was to get an electoral mandate to legitimize her unelected presidency.
She was thinking perhaps that with an electoral mandate, even if acquired by cheating, she could proceed with her “Strong Republic” program.
I am saying this because while reflecting on what the investigation of the grossly overpriced NBN/ZTE deal exposed, there are persons who say that even if Gloria Arroyo cheated in the 2004 elections, people would have tolerated it as long she gave good governance. With good governance, we mean honesty and competence are given premium.
Read this explosive notes by Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada, president of Philippine Forest Corporation until last week, October 2007.
Leah Navarro and Enteng Romano, convenors of the Black and White Movement sent me this with the following note:
Here’s a short write-up that Jun L wrote sometime in October. He wanted me to disseminate it without attribution. I believe he was motivated both by his genuine concern for a beleaguered friend who was being maligned no end, and his desire, even then, for the truth to somehow surface. He left it up to me as to how and when to disseminate it.
I did not find any compelling reason to get it out then. But now that Jun has told it all, and Neri is being invited back to testify, I believe the public deserves to know what was (and maybe still is) in the mind of Neri – at least from the point of view of a friend. I’m sure Jun will not mind.
Let’s get this out in the open.
God bless,
Enteng
What is Neri afraid to say and why?
Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging “Sec. May 200 ka dito” demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people’s mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked “Executive Priviledge” during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?
On the eve of the publication of a statement protesting the Sergio Apostol’s racial slur by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry that counts…
From ABS-CBN online:
Embattled Benjamin Abalos Sr., resigned chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), denied Sunday that he brokered for China’s ZTE company to get the national broadband network (NBN) contract.
Abalos said there is no need to broker for ZTE because the Chinese government already designated the Chinese contractor to undertake the NBN project as a condition to the granting of the loan.
During a press conference in Mandaluyong City, Abalos presented a photo copy of the letter of the Chinese embassy Dec.2, 2006, approving the loan and naming ZTE as its “prime contractor.”
Ano kaya ang pakiramdam ng mga sundalo at pulis nang tinatanong ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson si Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada tungkol sa parte ng $1.1bilyon (P59,400,000,000) na perang nawawala na maaaring napunta sa ma-anomalyang NBN.ZTE na kontrata?
Ang parte kasi ng P59,400,000,000 na yun ay dapat para sa housing project ng mga sundalo at pulis.
Lumabas itong impormasyon sa pagtatanong kay Lozada na humarap sa Senado noong Biyernes pagkatapos siyang kinidnap ng mga pulis nong Martes ng hapon nang dumating siya galing Hongkong, kung saan siya pinapunta noong isang linggo para makaiwas sa pagharap sa Senado na nag-iimbestiga sa anomalya ng $329 milyon (P18 bilyon) na kontrata ng pamahalaaang Arroyo sa ZTE ng China para magpatayo raw ng National Broadband Network dito sa Pilipinas.