Ombudsman cites Lozada for testifying vs GMA, but...

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the prosecutorial arm of the Office of the Ombudsman, expressed gratitude to national broadband network (NBN) deal whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. for testifying in the graft case filed against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the Sandiganbayan.

At the same time, government lawyers apologized for having to prosecute Lozada for a separate graft case, which makes him both an accuser and accused in the same Fourth Division of the anti-graft court, facing trial under the same three magistrates headed by Associate Justice Gregory Ong.

“We thank Mr. Lozada for his cooperation with the NBN deal case,” Assistant Special Prosecutor (ASP) III Faye Singson, spokesperson for the OSP, told The STAR yesterday when asked about Lozada’s grievances.

“It is just rather unfortunate that after due investigation, probable cause was found to indict him for his participation in the Philippine Forest Corp. (Philforest) case,” she added.

Lozada, who testified against the former president, former first gentlemen Jose Miguel Arroyo, former elections chief Benjamin Abalos Sr., and former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza last Wednesday and Thursday, had been openly expressing his dismay over how he has been charged with graft despite his sacrifices.

He said he is in a very difficult situation where he is testifying for the government and at the same time being prosecuted by the government in the same Sandiganbayan court by the same Ombudsman lawyers before the same justices.

“Kalokohan ‘tong ginagawa ko. Tetestigo ka para sa gobyerno tapos yung gobyerno rin kinakalaban ka. Siguro hindi lang talaga sa pagmamahal sa katotohanan at sa mga naniniwala pa rin na kahit papaano, sana may patunguhan lang ito (This is foolishness. I testify for the government which at the same time is prosecuting me. If not for love of the truth and those who still believe in it, I hope something comes out of this),” Lozada said after his direct examination last Wednesday.

On Thursday, he was grilled by defense lawyers who attacked his credibility using the graft case filed against him for his alleged acts of granting questionable leasehold rights when he was president of Philforest in 2007.

“Let’s say that what I’m going through is not fair because the only witness (referring to current Philforest president Erwin Cruz) of the Arroyos against me was retained by Malacañang,” Lozada said.

Singson, however, explained that the NBN deal graft case and the Philforest case against Lozada are two different issues.

“These two cases are separate and distinct from one another. And the prosecutors are but duty-bound to run after those who have erred,” she said.

Lozada, despite his situation and with the help of priests and nuns of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), has vowed to continue his fight for the truth.