Ombudsman affirms graft charges vs NBN-ZTE deal whistle-blower

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed its decision to file graft charges against national broadband network (NBN) deal whistle-blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, in a six-page resolution, junked his motion for reconsideration of an August 2012 decision to indict him before the Sandiganbayan.

Lozada’s graft cases stemmed from his alleged involvement in questionable leasehold rights grants when he was president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corp. (Philforest) in 2009.

The Office of the Ombudsman said he did not offer any new evidence that would assail and warrant a reversal of the anti-graft agency’s decision.

“The arguments raised by the respondents were already addressed and exhaustively discussed,” Morales said.

Lozada had argued in his appeal that the documents attached to the complaint against him “contain no smoking guns.”

“They do not show any wrongdoing or crime,” he said.

Morales, however, said, “In sum, the motion does not present any newly discovered evidence or material arguments of sufficient weight and persuasiveness to warrant consideration of the assailed pronouncements of [the Ombudsman].”

Lozada pleaded not guilty to the charges before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in October last year during a conditional arraignment for the purpose of allowing him to travel abroad.

The complaint against him alleges that he granted leasehold rights over public lands to his brother Jose Orlando and to a private company that had connections to him and his wife.

Lozada and his brother were charged for the award of a 6.59-hectare leasehold rights to the latter on Dec. 18, 2009 which was granted under the Lupang Hinirang program of Philforest.