Lozada’s friends wonder if Aquino’s attitude could have something to do with Lozada not consenting to his request in February 2008 for him (Aquino, who was then senator) to fetch the former in Hongkong, where he was told by then Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to hide so he could not testify in the Senate investigation of the NBN/ZTE deal.
It would have been a chance for Aquino, who had a lackluster record as senator, to shine.
The nuns must be thinking of last month’s incident in Batangas when Fernando Morales , allegedly linked with Vic Siman who was among those killed in the Atimonan massacre, was killed while policemen were serving his arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms.
Morales was in his underwear and was dragged out of his house at 1:30 a.m.
The arrest warrant for Lozada had nothing to do with NBN/ZTE. It’s for his alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly awarding the leasehold right of a 6,599 hectare land to his brother Jose Orlando Lozada when he was still president of the Philippine Forest Corporation, a government-owned corporation.
Jose Orlando availed of a board-approved program of the PFC.
A P30,000 bail each was set for the temporary liberty of Lozada and his brother. Lozada has returned to the sanctuary of the Religious again, just like when he was testifying on the $320 million telecommunications deal, one of the biggest scandals in the Arroyo administrations.
Last Wednesday, the nuns who support Lozada met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Social Services Dinky Soliman and Education Secretary Armin Luistro.
It will be recalled that the La Salle Religious community, of which Luistro was a member, provided Lozada and his family sanctuary when Gloria Arroyo was in power. Luistro together with Soliman actively supported Lozada’s crusade against Arroyo. Press Secretary Edwin Lacierda was Lozada’s lawyer.
The nuns complained why Erwin Santos, who was Arroyo hatchet man against Lozada, continues to be president of PFC.
Sources said the cabinet members told the nuns that Lozada is “out of President Aquino’s hands.” The appointment of Santos is the responsibility of Cesar L.Villanueva, chairman of Governance Commission for Government-owned- and -controlled Corporations, they said.
The nuns, it seems, are not satisfied with the explanation because they are seeking an audience with the President.
Supporters of Aquino who marched with Lozada against Arroyo are puzzled with Aquino’s icy, even adverse, attitude towards the whistleblower. The President had intervened directly in the case of Grace Padaca, even paying with his own money for her bail. The DOJ removed from the list of accused in the Ampatuan massacre the name of Norie Unas, the chief of staff of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., whom they used as star witness against Arroyo in the hastily- prepared electoral sabotage case.
Lozada’s friends wonder if Aquino’s attitude could have something to do with Lozada not consenting to his request in February 2008 for him (Aquino, who was then senator) to fetch the former in Hongkong, where he was told by then Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to hide so he could not testify in the Senate investigation of the NBN/ZTE deal.
It would have been a chance for Aquino, who had a lackluster record as senator, to shine.
Actually, it was not only Aquino that Lozada turned down. A number of politicians, businessmen, lawyers, and members of media offered but his decision was he would only go with the Religious.
Which was what he did when he surfaced after being waylaid by police authorities upon his arrival from Hongkong.
In the course of his testimony in the NBN/ZTE case, Lozada stepped on powerful toes who continue to wield clout even with the change of political leadership. That’s what he and his family are concerned about. They still remember Marlene Esperat, the star witness in the Fertilizer scam, who was gunned down in front of her children.
Lozada said he will abide by the law. He is not running from justice. He is just being careful.
Related article:
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2013/02/05/lozada-finds-no-support-from-aquino/
This happened about 6 pm of Feb. 7:
Four armed men posing as NBI agents came to Lozada house inquiring about his whereabouts,threatening to bring to jail if they don’t give the information.
The armed men took pictures all around the perimeter of teh Lozada residence.
When AMRSP checked with the NBI for authenticity,Sec. De Lima denied sending any NBI agents and confirmed that these armed elements are bogus agents.
isnt lozada a whistleblower? i don’t get it either.
Whose agents are those, and what information do they want? What has the info got to do with NBN/ZTE or his own graft case? Who would benefit the most if Lozada was dead?
Sana hindi ang request ni Aquino ang dahilan ng kanyang icy treatment kay Lozada, sobrang babaw naman kung yan ang dahilan.
Laking tulong sa bayan ang ginawa nya, nabulabog ang Gloria at Mike pati tapos aabandonahin lang dahil sa walang kwentang rason. How disappointing!
If there’s a will, there’s a way. If Aquino really wants to help Lozada. Mukha ngang may tampo.
Sabi ni Ping Lacson, nung panahon ng request ni Noynoy ay hindi lang naman sya ang nagpa-abot ng ganung intensyon kundi karamihan sa senadores, hot commodity daw si Lozada among the senators themselves. Bakit magtatampo si Noynoy lahat pala naman sila ay hindi pinagbigyan ni Mang Jun? Ang babaw kung tampo ang dahilan ng pag-iwan nya sa tao.
It’s a good thing Lacson is prepared anytime to bail out Lozada as a way of thanking him for his worthy expose on NBN/ZTE scandal that unmasked further Gloria and Mike greed to power and monies.
It’s quite disappointing if the is the case. Talagang ang babaw.
Senators Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Neri Colmenares know where Jun Lozada is coming from, his fear for his safety and that of his family.
Just when you thought that all would be quiet, a thunderous bang would shatter the sound of silence. It could be good, in a way, as at least it keeps you on your feet and be safety conscious.
Buti naman, chi. Nangungulit yung ibang ka-batch ko nung high school ng fund-raising in case ipa-arrest nga. Apparently kaklase nila si Jun sa UST (BSECE yata). Ako pa naman hindi ako sumasali diyan sa fund raising na may political color unang-una wala akong pera, hehehe.
tongue, same here walang pera para sa ganyan. Unattached help lang ako sa politics… campaign mode na naman ako ngayon via friends and family for two senatorial candidates lang.
Aba chi, nakapagpiyansa na yata. Wala muna akong ikakampanya ngayon. Tago muna ako. Tatlong kumpare ko ang kakandidato sa Pasay, dito muna ako sa Laguna. Mahirap mapagbintangan, karamihan yata ng mga napatay sa eleksyon binabawian yung mga akala nilang nagkanulo sa kanila.