Noy to Jun Lozada: You’re on your own

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino made it clear yesterday that he will not intervene to help NBN-ZTE scandal whistleblower Jun Lozada with his graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

“If he thinks that I can help him be absolved of those lawsuits, then he’s wrong because this is no longer covered by my authority. If we intervene in the Ombudsman, we might end up being sued. He should understand that,” the President said. 

Aquino also reminded Lozada that he also could not intervene in the cases filed against his partymates, Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Neric Acosta and Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca. 

“I’m barred from making interventions, that is clear in the Constitution,” he said.

The President was reacting to Lozada’s recent statements that Malacañang is harassing him for refusing the protection he offered when he was still a senator. Aquino, however, said he was only approached in 2008 to extend security to Lozada upon his arrival from Hong Kong, but the plan fizzled out after the latter chose to seek protection with other groups.

He said the agreement was for at least two senators, along with a reporter, to fetch Lozada at the airport.  

But he said they belatedly learned that everything they had planned was relayed to the other side.

The President said he could not understand why Lozada feels that he is getting back at him.

“I think it is he who is angry at me... We did not file the case against him. And I thought he said he is ready to defend himself? Why can’t he do that?” he said. 

The President said he did his best in assisting Lozada and even instructed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to secure the documents needed to prove his innocence.

He said Ochoa told him that his office has yet to receive such documents.

Lozada’s graft cases stemmed from his grant of leasehold rights to his brother and to a company that he reportedly owned when he was still head of the Philippine Forest Corp.