IF NATIONAL broadband network (NBN)-ZTE star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. can travel around the country and appear before forums concerning his quest to achieve "honesty" in government, so could his nemesis, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., or at least his lawyer can.
Lawyer Salvador Panelo said he and Abalos decided to also tour the country, claiming they will be given more time and space to explain their side through the local media.
Panelo said Abalos was never given the same opportunity and attention Lozada enjoys in the Senate and the media.
He said chances of refuting charges against his client was practically nil, because his side was surpassed by allegations emanated by some people who have an axe to grind against Abalos or First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.
National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) secretary for Baguio-Benguet chapter Arthur Allad-iw said the former election chief should not blame the media for the flak he gets.
"Media practitioners are just doing their job to bring information of public interest as Lozada's expose affect not only good governance but the people's welfare. Panelo is doing his job not for public interest but for his client," Allad-iw said.
Lozada was in Baguio last Tuesday to give inspirational talks to the students of the Saint Louis School Center. Prior to this, he held a press conference at the CRC Hall at the Bishop's compound.
Panelo said it is not possible for Abalos to serve as broker because even before his client met officials of ZTE and China, plans have been hatched by the Chinese government for a Chinese firm to handle the nationwide networking of all government offices.
Being the party, which would extend the loan, China could dictate conditions, including the service provider, the lawyer said.
"A private corporation cannot handle the national broadband network. It should be government because some information are confidential," he said.
Panelo also claimed that Joey de Venecia, another witness to the deal, came out with allegation against his client and the First Gentleman because his own proposal for the contract was disapproved.
He said de Venecia should come out with clean hands, because his attempt in entering into a deal with government shows a conflict-of-interest, he being the son of Pangasinan Representative Jose de Venecia Jr., then Speaker of the House of Representatives. (RO)
