Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr on Monday reiterated before the Senate that Rodolfo Lozada Jr, the key witness on the controversial ZTE deal, was not abducted shortly after his arrival from Hong Kong Tuesday last week.
In his opening statement, Razon said they merely heeded the request of Environment Secretary Jose Atienza to provide security for Lozada, who was reportedly fearing for his life for his involvement in the ZTE mess.
Razon said he immediately ordered Chief Supt. Romeo Hilomen, head of the Police Security and Protection Office, to provide security to Lozada upon receiving Atienza's request.
Razon said they allowed Lozada to use his cellphone and to leave the custody of the police anytime he wanted. He also said Lozada had told them of his unwillingness to testify before the Senate.
"He never asked the Police Security and Protection Office to let him go," he said, adding that Lozada was brought to the La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City at his "express request."
"We kept silent about Lozada's whereabouts at first for security reasons," Razon said.
Razon also told senators that that as far as he was concerned, the PNP had accomplished its mission of protecting Lozada. - GMANews.TV
