Priests, nuns shield ZTE whistleblower Lozada from harassment

A religious group is protecting engineer Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., the whistleblower in the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network mess, who has been ominously threatened recently by unidentified men.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines said Lozada was harassed several times by armed men. On Thursday night, the religious group asked the Philippine National Police to coordinate with them with regards to serving Lozada an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan.

"Pag nakita namin ang arrest warrant served by uniformed policemen, we will turn him over," AMRSP executive secretary Fr. Marlon Lacal said in an interview on dzBB radio.

The Sandiganbayan had ordered Lozada's arrest as he faces two counts of graft for allegedly granting in 2007 leasehold rights over public lands to his own brother and to a private company with connections to him and his wife while he was president of the government-run Philippine Forest Corp.

Meanwhile, Lacal recounted the episodes of harassment Lozada suffered, the latest one having occurred 6 p.m. Thursday.

The priest said four men claiming to be National Bureau of Investigation agents knocked on the door of Lozada's house and looked for him. "Hina-harass ang katulong, pag hindi hinarap si Jun ikukulong ang kasambahay," Lacal said.

Another incident occurred last Feb. 2 when armed two men aboard a motorcycle introduced themselves as policemen, though neither of them were in uniform.

On Feb. 4, six armed men aboard a stainless-steel jeep were seen near Lozada's house, acting suspiciously, as if mapping out the area. They claimed to be from the Philippine Postal Corp. and wanted to give a document to Lozada.

Meanwhile, Lozada told Bam Alegre of GMA 7 news program “Saksi” that he was perplexed by all the suspicious goings-on.



“Ako mismo nagtatanong din sa sarili ko, 'May na sasaktan ba ako sa administrasyon (President Benigno Aquino III's administration) na ito?',” said a nervous-sounding Lozada. “Haharapin ko sila lahat, magmula kay (Presidentila Communications Operations Officer secretary) Sonny Coloma... sina (Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office secretary) Ricky Carandang, sina (Presidential Spokesperson Edwin) Lacierda, haharapin ko sila lahat.”

"Sagutin din nila kami," he added. “Polisiya na ba ng ating administration na may kung ihaharap ng kasong ligal ang isang mamamayan ay kailangan magpadala ng ganitong klaseng mga armadong tao?”

Also in the “Saksi” report, DOJ said Secretary Leila Delima said the supposed NBI agents that tried to arrest Lozada were impostors.

GMA News Online was unable to get a comment from the Palace as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News

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