Lozada case may lead to arrest order vs First Couple!

[Zeus]

Ayon sa balita, pumayag na ang korte na ibalik siya sa Senate custody

[Zeus]

Defensor to drop perjury case vs Lozada - report

SOPHIA M. DEDACE, GMANews.TV
05/28/2009 | 10:14 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Saying he does not expect a fair trial, former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor on Thursday said he would not pursue the perjury case against Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the whistleblower in the allegedly anomalous national broadband network project with China's ZTE Corp.

Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo said that Defensor sent a letter to Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 President Jorge Judge Emmanuel Lorredo indicating that he is not interested to pursue the case.

Defensor, an ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, made the move on the same day that the court was set to hold the pre-trial on the perjury case.

The report quoted the defeated senatorial bet in the 2007 elections as saying that he is not expecting that the court proceedings would be impartial.

Lorredo had earlier advised Defensor to drop the case because President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo might be dragged into the proceedings by Lozada’s defense team by invoking certain provisions of the Rules of Court, in which case the court may be compelled to grant such request.

But Lorredo came under fire following his supposed “unsolicited advice." [See Judge scored for his unsolicited advice to Mike Defensor].

Lorredo’s remark that the perjury case against Lozada might be a prelude to martial rule also drew criticism. [See: DOJ chief wants probe on Manila judge handling Lozada case]

Even as he reportedly intends to drop the charge, Defensor said he is still confident that he could get a fair trial against Lozada in another venue.

Defensor filed the perjury case in connection with Lozada’s claim that government authorities had abducted him upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport February 5 last year from Kong.

Lozada had alleged that the "abduction" was to prevent him from appearing before the Senate hearing on the $329.48-million broadband deal mess.

The government entered into the allegedly overpriced deal with China’s Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Inc. (ZTE) but President Arroyo subsequently aborted the agreement at the height of the controversy in 2007.

High-profile personalities like the First Gentleman and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Benjamin Abalos were dragged into the mess. Both Mr. Arroyo and Abalos have denied the allegations against them. - GMANews.TV

Baka takot si Defensor na lumabas ang katutuhanan

[oliver1013]

Mismo

[chua_riwap]

Mabuhay ka Judge Lloredo!