BY DENNIS GADIL

A TEAM believed led by the security chief of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport "snatched" NBN-ZTE prime witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada from Senate arresting teams as he arrived yesterday.

Reports said Lozada, who flew in from Hong Kong at around 4:40 p.m., was apparently whisked off by retired general Angel Atutubo, NAIA assistant general manager for security, and was directly taken down to the tarmac to a waiting van.

Atutubo reportedly was a former aide of President Arroyo. The van went toward Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

Ellen Tordesillas tells of an insider’s version of how the ZTE deal was ‘cooked.’ See Page 5.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chair, said the Senate arresting team pursued the van but returned empty handed to the Senate shortly after 6 p.m.

Cayetano said Lozada was originally to be brought to the dignitaries lounge where his relatives and OSAA (Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms) members were waiting but was made to exit at the airport tarmac, skipping customs and immigration procedures.

Lozada’s relatives, his lawyer, OSAA members and Sen. Benigno Aquino III were unable to see him.

A member of the Senate party said they made contact with Lozada through his mobile phone when his plane landed but lost contact minutes after.

A source who asked not to be identified criticized the Senate arresting team for being clueless on what happened to Lozada.

The source said OSAA members learned that Lozada had taken by other men only from press airport photographers.

Carmen Lozada, elder sister of Lozada, said she is apprehensive about her brother’s safety.

"Where’s Jun? Ano’ng ginagawa nila sa kanya?" she said in a television interview.

"I’m very worried. I’d rather that he go to the Senate."

Carmen said her brother called them up last week to inform them that he was coming home "to face the music, whatever that is."

Art Lozada, a brother, told dzMM that he received two text messages from his brother after he was taken away by the unidentified men.

He said Lozada first sent a text that he was taken by to the Villamor Airbase and the second message was that they were on the C-5.

Aquino said another text message received by a family member a little after 6 p.m. said that Lozada was taken "out of town" and even asked the family member to inform the media about him.

A tearful Violet Lozada said over radio: "I just want my husband back. Please ibalik ninyo na ang asawa ko!"

The Senate issued the arrest warrant against former NEDA director general Romulo Neri and Lozada, his consultant, last Jan. 30.

The Senate sergeant-of-arms has yet to serve the arrest order on Neri.

The Supreme Court yesterday granted the petition of Neri to restrain the Senate from arresting him over his non-compliance with subpoenas to attend its hearing on the $329-million broadband deal with China’s ZTE that was cancelled by the Arroyo government last year.

In an en banc resolution, the SC told Senate committees to comment within 10 days on Neri’s petition questioning the legality of the arrest warrant.

The warrant was signed by 13 senators from the Blue Ribbon, trade and commerce, and national defense and security committees.

The magistrates set oral arguments on March 4.

Neri, when informed about the events at the airport, said he was worried about Lozada’s safety.

Aquino said a friend of Lozada approached Liberal Party stalwart and former Education Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad last week to discuss his possible return.

Abad then contacted Aquino to help facilitate the surrender of Lozada to Senate sheriffs.

The negotiations were kept secret to avert leaks. Aquino said he then alerted Cayetano on the imminent return of Lozada.

Cayetano, in an earlier media briefing at the Senate, said Lozada was to be offered protective custody or arrested if he refused.

Cayetano also appealed to NAIA officials, PNP and Malacañang not to impede Lozada’s return of Lozada and his safe transit to the Senate.

He said the Senate probe would resume immediately when the Senate takes custody of Lozada.

A Senate source said Lozada dared that he be arrested by the OSAA than surrender voluntarily.

The source said Lozada was also expected to submit his resignation effective immediately as president and CEO of the Philippine Forest Corp. once he arrived at the Senate.

Agustin Maderazo, airport immigration officer-in-charge and duty supervisor, said the Cathay Pacific management has to explain why Lozada did not go through the usual arrival procedure.

"It is up to the airline management to explain why the passenger on their manifest did not present himself before us so that proper procedure should have been observed," Maderazo said.

Lozada left last Wednesday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight for Hong Kong.

CLARIFY EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE

Senators expressed hope that the Supreme Court would immediately resolve the petition seeking clarification on the scope of President Arroyo’s executive privilege.

Senators made this appeal after the SC ordered the Senate to stop enforcing its arrest order on Neri.

"We welcome it (SC injunction) and I hope the Supreme Court would immediately resolve this question," Cayetano said. – With Evangeline de Vera, Jay Chua and JP Lopez