Manila mayor seeks custody of Lozada

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim asked a Manila court yesterday to place ZTE scam whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada in his custody.

In his petition, Lim told Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Jorge Emmanuel Lorredo that he personally knows Lozada, and that he would vouch for his character as a law-abiding citizen.

“On my recognizance, I request that accused (Lozada) be released to my custody, for his provisional liberty during the pendency of this case before this Court,” he said.

Lim said he would ensure Lozada’s appearance before the court, whenever required, and that the latter complies with the conditions of bail under the Rules on Criminal Procedure.

Lim personally filed the affidavit of undertaking before the court after signing it. He went to court with Lozada, lawyer Ric de la Cruz of the Manila Mayor’s Office, and Sister Mary John Mananzan and Sister Estrella Castalone, national chairperson and executive director of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.

In submitting a two-page “application for recognizance” before the court, Lozada said he would apply for bail on recognizance by Lim, in lieu of surety, property or cash bail. If his application is granted, Lozada will remain in Greenhills, San Juan, but would be in Lim’s custody while facing trial.

Lozada is facing charges of perjury filed by Philippine National Railways Chairman Michael Defensor.

Lozada blew the whistle on the $329-million national broadband network scam involving Chinese firm ZTE Corp.