Date: 2008-03-28
By: Vincent Reganot
Subject: NBN-ZTE Scandal
Various Palace spokespersons called the Senate witness on the ZTE scandal a liar, and his emotional press conference a tissue of convenient lies. Does anyone in Malacañang actually think there was anything convenient in the course Lozada chose? What does a man like Lozada, who is not independently wealthy, who holds no political power; stand to gain from taking on Malacañang? It is striking that Lozada took pains to give a nuanced explanation for signing that second affidavit. Lozada could have easily said he had signed the second affidavit against his will. Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, Lozada’s erstwhile boss, maintained that Lozada had gone through the immigration and customs counters upon arrival from Hong Kong. Philippine National Police Director General Avelino Razon alleged that Lozada was brought immediately to La Salle Greenhills. But Lozada said he was in fact taken for a long ride to Laguna province, before media interest and public curiosity forced his custodians to return to Metro Manila. Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez scored the inconsistency in Lozada’s explanation of the second affidavit. Malacañang’s full-court press gives the game away.
