MANILA, Philippines -- The Senate has ordered the arrest of a key witness in the investigation of the alleged anomaly in the national broadband network (NBN) project after he failed to attend this Wednesday’s session despite a subpoena.

It also ordered the arrest Romulo Neri, former secretary of the National Economic Development Authority, who has been reported to have designated Rodolfo Lozada consultant in evaluating proposals for the NBN project, which sought to build a broadband network linking government agencies and local government units nationwide.

Those who signed the orders were Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, Pia Cayetano, Manuel Roxas II, Rodolfo Biazon, Loren Legarda, and Francis Escudero.

Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Richard Gordon, and Ramon Revilla Jr. signed only the order for Lozada's arrest.

Following a debate over whether to arrest the two or not, Cayetano, chairman of the blue-ribbon committee, ruled that the orders would have to be signed by a majority of the three committees hearing the controversy.

Earlier on Wednesday, Enrile moved to have Lozada, chief executive officer of Philippine Forest Corp., arrested, saying Senate rules must be enforced.

Lozada, a witness of Senator Panfilo Lacson, was scheduled to testify but sent word that he could not do so because he was on an official trip to London.

“I want to have a warrant of arrest issued for this man to answer questions,” Enrile said.

Prefacing his own motion by saying that he was not objecting to Enrile, Lacson moved to amend his colleague’s motion to include the arrest of Neri, now chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.

Neri appeared in past Senate hearings but did not give enough information on the controversy involving a $329-million contract with China’s ZTE Corp. as he invoked executive privilege.

“This is not an objection, but a reservation. The arrest order might scare [Lozada] from returning back to the country,” Lacson said.

“He can stay forever in London...or in Siberia...for as long as there is the Philippine Senate...until he is willing to answer our questions,” Enrile countered.

Lacson said Lozada had told him that he was willing to return, resign from his position at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and testify.

But Enrile was adamant. “He has no choice until he testifies here,” he said.

Lacson's motion was seconded by fellow minority Senator Ana Consuelo Madrigal.

Cayetano said that if Lozada would signify his intention to testify, the Senate's office of the sergeant-at-arms would escort him, which he added would be equivalent to an arrest.

After the hearing, Enrile told reporters that Neri, as a Cabinet member, was covered by executive privilege, which he had invoked. He argued that in contrast, Lozada was only the head of a government corporation.

Jose De Venecia III, son of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. was also scheduled to attend this Wednesday’s hearing but backed off after learning of Lozada’s absence.

De Venecia wrote to Cayetano, saying he won’t appear in this morning’s hearing because “the next significant witness” won’t attend the hearing.

“As discussed with you, my presence was based on my understanding that Mr. Rodolfo Lozada would testify at today’s committee hearing. Because of his absence, I believe that it is not necessary for me to appear this morning,” the young De Venecia said.

De Venecia also called for a closure of the hearings.

“I hope the full closure of this episode will now be completed with the passage of a Joint Committee Report from the respective committees of the Senate and referred to the appropriate authorities,” he said in the letter received by the committee at 9:49 a.m.

Mary Ann Lucille Sering, undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in her letter dated January 29 to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Lozada was on a trip to London.

Sering had asked Ermita to have the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office confirm Lozada’s subpoena for the Senate hearing.

“If this is confirmed, we further request said office to inform the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that Mr. Lozada is not available to attend said hearing by virtue of his trip to London in accordance with the attached Travel Authority,” Sering said.

The Senate was furnished a copy of Sering’s letter.