Palace sees vengeance in Lozada’s move vs Ochoa

MANILA, Philippines - Whistle-blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. was motivated by vengeance when he linked Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to an allegedly questionable government transaction that had long been scrapped, a Palace official said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Aquino had turned down Lozada’s request for help in connection with the graft charges he is facing.

Lozada, the whistle-blower in the $329-milllion botched NBN-ZTE deal during the Arroyo administration, was charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for allegedy awarding parcels of land to his brother when he was still head of the Philippine Forest Corp.

“It’s very simple, if he went to the President and he asked for help, and help was not given the way he wanted, then this is obvious where he is coming from,” she told a news briefing in Malacañang. “I think it’s obvious.”

Lozada had met with Aquino in Malacañang supposedly to seek help in connection with his case, but got a dressing down from the President instead.

The Chief Executive advised him to face the charges if he really believes he is innocent.

The President had earlier made clear that he would not intervene in Lozada’s case, just like his other political allies facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.

“I would like to remind him that my partymate, Neric Acosta, is facing trial. And so is Grace Padaca. So, as far as my two partymates are concerned, I’m barred from making interventions, that is clear in the Constitution,” Aquino stressed.

Lozada accused Malacañang of harassing him because he refused the protection offered by Aquino when he was still a senator.

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