Defensor to withdraw complaint vs Lozada

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila City court judge yesterday offered a second thanksgiving prayer after former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor sent a letter expressing interest to withdraw the perjury complaint he filed against ZTE-national broadband network (NBN) whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr.

Manila City Metropolitan Trial Court (MCMTC) Branch 26 Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo yesterday said Defensor sent a three-paragraph letter hinting that he is withdrawing his complaint against his estranged friend because he also believes that the court was biased.

Lorredo received the letter before the start of the pre-trial, right after the opening prayer and the court was called in session.

After scanning the contents, he asked those in the courtroom to stand once more and to join him in a thanksgiving prayer because Defensor listened to his appeal to withdraw the perjury case against Lozada.

“I am no longer interested in pursuing the present case. While I am very much determined to seek relief for the criminal acts committed by Mr. Jun Lozada that caused serious injury upon my person, I feel that I may not be able to obtain impartial justice from the Honorable Court,” Defensor said in his letter, a copy of which was given to the media by his representative.

He said, “With all due respect, even a cursory reading of the orders issued by the Honorable Court would expose the Honorable Presiding Judge’s bias in favor of the accused. I am thus seeking the indulgence of the Honorable Court as I will not be able to attend the hearings while my lawyers and I are preparing the documents necessary to cause the withdrawal of my complaint.”

However, Lorredo said that since they could not dismiss the case just on the basis of a letter, they set another hearing, on June 11, for the trial proper.

They are hoping that Defensor would be able to attend the hearing, so he could appear and confirm that he is truly withdrawing the case.

“We need to terminate the pre-trial because he could always change his mind,” Lorredo said.

Lozada regarded the withdrawal of the case as a “victory of the people.” He also said that he would stand by his statement and his beliefs.

Malacañang, meantime, denied that it had any hand in the decision of Defensor to withdraw his perjury case against Lozada. – Evelyn Maacairan, Marvin Sy