Atienza, Razon welcome charges

MANILA, Philippines – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza and Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon welcomed yesterday kidnapping and attempted murder charges filed against them by Senate key witness Rodoldo Noel Lozada Jr. before the Department of Justice.

“I welcome the move by Mr. Lozada to bring his allegations against me to the DOJ. The court is definitely the right venue to correct the lies he has been peddling to the Senate and the media,” Atienza said.

Speaking on behalf of Razon, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome declared: “We welcome this development in the same manner that we welcome a similar complaint earlier filed against the PNP before the Office of the Ombudsman.”

Bartolome said the case filed by Lozada before the DOJ will allow the PNP “the opportunity to air our side and present our own evidence before the proper forum to disprove the allegation and once and for all clarify the issue.”

The PNP is also ready to answer a separate complaint filed by Lozada before the Office of the Ombudsman, he said.

Aside from Atienza and Razon, other respondents are Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Assistant General Manager Angel Atutubo, PNP-Police Security and  Protection Office director Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, Superintendent Paul Mascarinas, and retired Army Sergeant Rodolfo Valeroso.

Lozada’s lawyers said the case stemmed from the alleged abduction of their client last Feb. 5 at the NAIA shortly after his arrival from Hong Kong.

Lozada is the star witness in the ongoing investigation of the scrapped $329-million national broadband network contract of the government with China’s ZTE Corp. – Jaime Laude