BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

GOVERNMENT officials will have their chance to rebut the claims by ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. last Friday that he was abducted after Malacañang yesterday gave its consent for them to attend the Senate hearing on the $329-million NBN-ZTE deal.

"Unlike Mr. Lozada who is only armed with hearsay and subjective testimonies, the officials will be basing their statements from objective facts and testimonies which can stand in any court," said deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez.

The officials are acting Higher Education chair Romulo Neri, Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr., Michael Defensor, former presidential chief of staff; Manuel Gaite, deputy executive secretary for legal affairs; Remedios Poblador, Malacañang secretary for special concerns; PNP chief Avelino Razon, and Angel Atutubo, NAIA assistant general manager for security.

Neri, in his last testimony before the Senate in October last year, invoked executive privilege when asked to divulge his conversation with President Arroyo on the P200 million bribe by then Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Atienza reportedly told Lozada that he would be handing the country over to the opposition if he testifies on the anomalies.

Defensor supposedly told Lozada to call a press conference last Wednesday and deny that he was abducted.

Gaite reportedly knows a certain "Attorney Bautista" who Lozada said told him to sign an affidavit that he has nothing to do with the ZTE deal.

Poblador supposedly directed Lozada to write a letter to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile asking him to recall the Senate arrest order.

Razon has said that Lozada was never abducted.

Atutubo supposedly handed over Lozada to the group of a certain SPO4 Valeroso, an act considered as obstruction of justice by the Senate.

Blue Ribbon chair Alan Peter Cayetano said he expects "full cabinet attendance" when the Senate resumes its hearing this week. "Kung magco-cooperate aba, ibang usapan na ‘yun."

He added: "Yung mga nabanggit (by Lozada) anytime, they can show up but hindi kami maghahabol para lang mag-appear sila."

Cayetano criticized the flurry of press conferences by allies of Malacañang over the weekend to refute the testimony of Lozada. "Presscon kayo ng presscon, hindi naman under oath, hindi rin pwede tanungin ng senador. Dito kayo sa Senado and we will give you all the time to explain," he said.

Cayetano said the Senate tri-committee may recommend the inclusion of Lozada among the government officials to be held accountable for the anomalous contract.

But he said they could also recommend immunity for Lozada like what the Arroyo government did to former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who blew the whistle on the alleged jueteng and tobacco tax kickbacks of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"Si Jun, okey lang sa kanya na makulong basta ‘yung kumuha ng $130 million makulong din," he said.

"Mas gusto ko pang maging crying boy kesa lying boy siya."

Lozada is quartered in the office of Cayetano at the Senate building.

Golez and deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said President Arroyo had already directed the Justice department to look into the alleged irregularities in the NBN project "in order to find out if there are people liable in this cancelled contract, and make them face the law".

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has said the DOJ probe is intended to pin down Lozada.

Lacson said one proof of this is the revelation of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago of alleged irregularities in Philippine Forest Corporation, where Lozada is president and chief executive officer. Lozada has since resigned.

Fajardo, dispelling suspicions that Sen. Santiago was tasked into doing a demolition job on Lozada, said the senator is not someone who can be dictated to.

"When the opposition does a demolition job against the government, they say they are just bringing out the truth. When the government bares embarrassing truths about the opposition, they call it a demolition job. We must tell people the truth about Lozada so they will know what really is behind his accusations and claims," she said.

Minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called on the joint Senate panels to summon ZTE chairman Fu Yong and Fan Yang, commercial attaché of the Chinese embassy to shed light on their roles in the Chinese government project.

"If they refuse to appear before the Senate, the government should deport Fu and declare Fan persona non grata," he said.

He said that Fu had earlier been summoned by the Blue Ribbon but failed to show up.

Pimentel said Fu and Fan would have to answer the allegations of Joey de Venecia r that Abalos had already received part of his commission from ZTE even before its project proposal was approved by the Philippine government.

Cayetano said the joint panel would extend stress-free testimony time for First Gentleman Mike Arroyo should he appear in this week’s hearing.

Cayetano said the joint panel may provide an advance set of questions to the presidential spouse and even set a strict time limit for questions.

"We will accord him VIP treatment," he said.

Lozada had testified that there were two occasions that it became clear to him that the presidential spouse was the political sponsor of Abalos in the NBN contract.

He said the first time was during a dinner at a hotel in Makati in 2006 where the First Gentleman was present and was told of the understanding reached by Abalos and Joey de Venecia III.

Lozada said the second instance was when Abalos called up the First Gentleman when his loan-funded NBN proposal was rejected by the National Economic Development Authority.

Sen. Joker Arroyo, a former Blue Ribbon chairman, assailed Lozada for failing to show documents that the broadband deal was overpriced but said his (Lozada) abduction should be investigated by the Senate.

He stressed Lozada should not be considered a credible witness unless he produces documents that the NBN-ZTE deal was overpriced.

Arroyo suggested that the defense and national security committee chaired by Biazon should concentrate on the abduction. "Malaking bagay yan, human rights issue yun."

Senate President Manuel Villar said he also favors a separate probe on the abduction issue.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile disagreed that a solo probe on the abduction issue would be a waste of time.

‘GRILLED TO A CRISP’

Militant groups will hold protest actions at the Senate gate today targeted against Atienza, Neri and Razon.

"While Atienza, Neri and Razon are attending the hearing, they might again invoke ‘executive privilege’ as their catch-all excuse for evading questions," said Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general.

Reyes said that they hope these "lying officials" would be "grilled to a crisp" during the Senate investigation.

"It has been one lie after another. Delicadeza would dictate that these officials resign their posts. Unfortunately such a concept is unheard of in the Arroyo administration," he said.

OUT OF CONCERN

Neri confirmed his advise to Lozada to write Enrile to recall the Senate arrest warrant was out of concern for him (Lozada).

"I was the one who suggested the wording of the letter. May warrant of arrest na kasi sya at nakita ko sa news na sinabing dinuraan sya ni First Gentleman so I asked him for ways to correct the report," Neri said in a radio interview.

Lozada had testified that Neri dictated the contents of the letter through text messages while he was in Hong Kong.

Enrile had sought Lozada’s arrest for his no-show at the Senate hearing last Jan. 30.

Poblador has denied that she told Lozada to write to Enrile.

Poblador said she suggested that Neri write to Enrile.

Neri also said he has cut off any communication with Lozada. "Right now it’s better not to communicate with him. Maaaring magkaroon ng misunderstanding. Even the most innocent remark can be taken out of context. We have to be careful."

RAZON: ‘NO ABDUCTION’

Razon said he is ready for today’s hearing.

In a radio interview, Razon maintained they just gave security protection to Lozada upon his and his sister Carmen’s request.

In last Friday’s Senate hearing, Lozada said he never sought protection from the police. Carmen Lozada also said they would never seek police protection since their brother Fernando was killed in 2001 by policemen who mistook him for a kidnapper.

Razon presented to the media last week the supposed request letter for protection supposedly signed by Lozada and Carmen.

Razon said that it now appears that the PNP is on the losing edge by making it look like they kidnapped Lozada.

"Ang mission ng PSPO was to provide security to Jun Lozada. Walang kidnapping, walang abduction na nangyari. Hindi naman siya pinuwersa, hindi naman siya binitbit, di rin siya naka handcuffs," Razon said.

FABRICATION

Abalos, in a press conference in Mandaluyong city, broke his silence on Lozada’s claims which he said were fabricated.

"There are several statements he said na makikita na fabricated. In these alone, his statements should already crumble," Abalos said.

Abalos cited the statement of Lozada that the negotiations on the NBN contract between the group of Abalos, ZTE, and Amsterdam Holdings Inc. of Joey de Venecia III in September 2006.

"Joey de Venecia had said we only met each other in December 15 (2006). How come Lozada is claiming that we were already discussing the contract before December pa? E which is which ba? Isn’t it contradicting," Abalos said.

Another contradiction, Abalos said, was the claim of Lozada that the price of the project was overpriced by $130 million.

"Bakit ang sinasabi ni Romulo Neri (then Director of National Economic Development Authority) na ang tinitingnan lang nila sa project is yung technical aspect pero ano itong sinasabi ni Lozada na overpriced? Hindi ba financial aspect ito?" he said.

"And don’t you find the claim of Lozada that I was trying to protect my $130 million commission incredible? Napakalaki noon na halos kalahati ng presyo talaga ng project," he said.

Abalos denied he threatened the life of Lozada.

"Do I look like a man capable of saying those? I don’t think so especially for those who know my personality," he said.

Abalos said he is willing to face the Senate probe once again "if the need arises."

Abalos’ lawyer Salvador Panelo said they are preparing charges of libel and perjury against Lozada. He said the libel suit would seek damages of at least P100 million.

"We will base the libel case on the statements he made in his press conference at the La Salle-Greenhills while the perjury will be based on his statements at the Senate inquiry. We will file these as soon as we get a hold of the transcripts," Panelo said. – With JP Lopez, Ashzel Hachero, Raymond Africa, and Gerard Naval