Ombudsman files 2 graft cases vs NBN deal whistle-blower

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has filed two graft cases against national broadband network (NBN) deal anomaly whistleblower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. before the Sandiganbayan.

Lozada was allegedly involved in questionable leasehold rights grants when he was president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corp. (Philforest).

After an investigation conducted by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer (GIPO) Laurie Layne Cristobal, graft probers indicted him for acts showing conflict of interest and partiality.     

Records show that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales approved the filing of charges on July 31, 2012 based on the recommendations of Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication Bureau Director Moreno Generoso.

The complaint filed on Tuesday by the Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said Lozada granted leasehold rights over public lands to his brother Jose Orlando and to a private company that had connections to him and his wife.

The 6.59-hectare leasehold rights were granted under the Lupang Hinirang program of Philforest on Dec. 18, 2009. The program was aimed at promoting productivity of idle lands by opening tracts of land to tilling by private entities, particularly to planting of jatropha to spur production of bio-diesel as alternative fuel.

Lozada was separately indicted for a second graft charge for also granting leasehold rights of another public land to Transforma Quinta Inc., a private entity that he and his wife were representing.

Lozada made news several years ago after he disclosed the botched $329-million NBN deal anomaly, which eventually led to the filing of graft charges last year against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is among the witnesses who are expected to testify in the case before the Sandiganbayan, where former elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr., former first gentlemen Jose Miguel Arroyo, and former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza were also indicted.