Religious superiors to protect, sustain Lozada

BY GERARD NAVAL

THE Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) yesterday said it would not abandon ZTE star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada even if the Senate withdraws the latter's security detail.

"He (Lozada) is still under our sanctuary program. We are still very willing to protect him and to sustain his needs. Hindi na namin iuurong ito," AMRSP executive secretary Sr. Estrella Castalone told Radio Veritas.

Castalone said the sanctuary fund has P2.8 million, raised over four months since it began to finance the legal expenses of witnesses in the botched broadband deal.

She said there is another fund which is directly dedicated for Lozada's expenditures while he is under the protection of the Senate.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile last Sunday proposed the withdrawal of the security detail for Lozada after it was revealed that the Senate has spent P2 million for the security of Lozada and ZTE consultant Dante Madriaga. Enrile said there is no more real threat to Lozada's life.

Castalone said Enrile seems to be unmindful of the dilemma being faced by witnesses.

"Gusto ko i-quote si Senator (Alan Peter) Cayetano: 'Ano ang halaga ng isang buhay?' Karapatan at mahalaga ang buhay ng isang tao para sa kanyang kaligtasan," the nun said.

She said AMRSP is willing to provide security to the "new" witness of Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico as the sanctuary fund is not solely for Lozada.

"Kung gusto niya na mag-request sa amin, tutulungan namin siya. Pero ang first requisite ay the person himself would have to request us. Gaya ng ginawa ni Jun, lumapit siya sa amin at humingi ng tulong," the nun said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. sought an investigation into the Senate expenses for the security arrangements of Lozada and Madriaga, citing concerns over possible misuse of Senate funds.

Lozada and Madriaga both testified on the irregularities including kickbacks in the $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband deal.

Pimentel said the Senate accounts committee headed by majority leader Francis Pangilinan should look into the expenses

Pimentel said the expenses reported by the Senate for the two witnesses could have been padded. - With Dennis Gadil