A BIG FUCKING DEAL
Most of us, I think, know a little bit about the ZTE scandal—I say a bit because most of those government officials in the know have steadfastly refused to shed any light on the matter.
Two men, Romulo Neri—former secretary of NEDA—and the man he appointed consultant on the NBN deal, Rodolfa Lozada, have broken that silence in what has so far only constituted vague hints about the irregularities. Neri has invoked “executive privilege”—although he has also intimated that he had been coerced into silence and that his boyfriend (now in hiding) was also threatened.
But Lozada, who was apparently fleeing the country, showed more willingness to testify. The senate ordered his arrest, although he returned form Hong Kong voluntarily, hoping for the protection of the senate—as he and his family have claimed that they were being threatened. Upon his return from Hong Kong, senator Pia Cayetano along with the arresting team from the senate, were to take him into their custody. That never happened. Lozada was abducted.
A group of armed men took Lozada as he exited the plane and took him… where?
Malacanang denies any knowledge of this but:
Razon told INQUIRER.net that Lozada and his family were together, a day after the environment official was allegedly taken by unidentified security men at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after arriving from Hong Kong.
The family denies this:
In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lozada’s sister, Carmen, said she had seen her brother and that he was alive although he had lost weight.
“Ayun, buhay pa siya [He is still alive],” said Lozada’s sister. “Nangayayat siya [He lost weight]” and he appeared “haggard,” she added.
However, she declined to say when and where she had seen her brother but admitted that he was “with the people who took him.”
She also declined to reveal where she was and ended the phone conversation which she said was being listened to.
Additionally, Razon—the head of the PNP—claimed that:
Razon dismissed accusations that they had obstructed justice when they took custody of Lozada, saying that it was the official who wrote to the Police Security and Protection Office and requested for protection.
And yet The Philippine Star reports that he sent an instant message to his brother Arthur saying, “I was kidnapped”. Star further quotes Arthur as saying, “He said they were already at C-5 (Road) and he did not know where they were going.” And reported that “Lozada, through his family and friends, had contacted the Senate about his arrival from Hong Kong, where he had been staying since he left on Jan. 30.” And the PNP has not shown anyone the supposed letter in which Lozada asks for their protection!
And finally, Lozada’s wife has filed a writ of Habeas Corpus for her husband before the Supreme Court.
Now what I want to know is why this is not a big deal—why are we not in EDSA right now screaming for Lozada’s release?
Lozada is not small fish, he is CEO of Philippine Forest Corp., and has knowledge of ill-dealings involving a $329 million contract! Yet this government (I hope no one doubts who is ultimately behind this) thinks it can just take him with impunity, flying directly against the legal warrant of arrest issued by the senate! He appears, more importantly to be decent man, braving threats of violence against his person and against his family just to testify before the senate on this issue—don’t we as a nation owe it to him to move in his protection?
Not even the Black and White Movement (of which Pia Cayetano is a member) has said anything about it in their blog.
