MANILA, Philippines -- In case they are harmed, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri and his longtime friend, Rodolfo Noel ?Jun? Lozada Jr., have recorded what they know about the ZTE broadband scandal and other cases by putting them in writing and on video, three sources told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson and businessman Jose ?Joey? de Venecia III told the Inquirer in separate interviews that Lozada had told them that he and Neri had executed separate affidavits and videotaped their testimony for their protection.

What Neri refused to tell the Senate about his conversation with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in the Lozada affidavit, according to a third source.

When Neri told her about the P200-million bribe offer by then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos, Ms Arroyo said something to this effect: ?Ignore it (the bribe) but approve it (the ZTE proposal),? the third source who is a civil society leader told the Inquirer.

This source confirmed that his longtime friend Lozada had showed him his affidavit late last year during the Senate hearings on the $329-million contract for the National Broadband Network (NBN) project awarded to China?s ZTE Corp.

The NBN project was aimed at linking government agencies with local government units via a high-speed and high-capacity telecommunication network.

Trusted friends

Another source said the duo gave trusted friends copies of their testimony to be disclosed ?in case something bad happens to them.?

Neri and Lozada also told other friends about their affidavits and videos for their security.

Neri and Lozada reportedly informed some Malacañang people about the affidavits and video as a warning to those planning to physically harm them.

The affidavits reportedly narrate the tale of corruption in the NBN and other government projects, and the high officials and other personalities involved.

President?s instructions

One source said the Lozada affidavit include the details of Ms Arroyo?s instructions on the ZTE deal, which Neri refused to divulge to the Senate.

A civil society leader, who is a longtime friend of Lozada?s, told the Inquirer that he saw the latter?s affidavit where he narrated details of the ZTE scandal, including parts of Ms Arroyo?s conversation with Neri.

Lozada was summoned to testify in the Senate because he supposedly knew about the ZTE scandal as he was Neri?s personal consultant at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) assigned to evaluate proposals to undertake the NBN project.

?Both of them have an affidavit and testimony on video but they don?t know to whom the other entrusted his,? Lacson said Wednesday.

He said Lozada, chief executive of state-owned Philippine Forest Corp., told him about these during their first meeting around late November or early December last year. He said he asked for a copy but Lozada declined.

?They narrated what they know about the ZTE and other projects,? Lacson said.

No affidavit

Lacson sought out Lozada last year after his name was mentioned at the Senate hearings and Lozada met with him several times to discuss his possible appearance at the hearings on the ZTE deal.

But Neri denied he made an affidavit.

?Of course not,? he said when asked by the Inquirer. Asked if he knew about Lozada?s affidavit, he said: ?I wouldn?t know.?

Neri earlier testified in the Senate that then Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr., who allegedly brokered the ZTE deal, offered him a P200-million bribe so he would process the ZTE proposal to undertake the NBN project.

Neri, now head of the Commission on Higher Education, refused to tell the Senate what instructions Ms Arroyo issued after he told her of the attempted bribery.

De Venecia, whose company offered to build the broadband network but failed to get the contract, said Lozada had told him about the affidavits the night before he flew to London on Wednesday.

?Yes, he has an affidavit and the other copy is with another person,? De Venecia said, but Lozada declined to show or give him a copy.

De Venecia?s company, Amsterdam Holdings Inc. offered to build the network on a build-operate-transfer scheme, while ZTE Corp., a state-owned firm listed on the Shenzen and Hong Kong stock exchanges, proposed to set it up using concessional loans from the Chinese government.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ZTE vice president Yu Yong signed the $329-million NBN contract on April 21, 2007, in ceremonies witnessed by Ms Arroyo.

The President scrapped the contract on Oct. 2, 2007, amid allegations of overprice and bribery that came to light as a result of the Senate hearings last year.

The civil society leader told the Inquirer that Lozada showed the affidavit to him sometime late last year when the Senate hearings were conducted.

Lozada told him he executed the affidavit ?in case something happens to him.?

Lozada also showed the affidavit to a few other people.

The civil society leader said the affidavit mainly confirmed what De Venecia had told the Senate.

A second source in civil society said Neri and Lozada executed the affidavits and recorded their testimony on videotape last year.

Media to get copies

?The understanding was that if something bad happens to them, certain people including some from the media will get their copies,? the source told the Inquirer.

The second source in the civil society group said Lozada was afraid to spill what he knows at this point because of threats to his life.

?He?s a small guy compared to the bigger parties in this scandal who have resources and access to security. This guy is scared and that?s why it?s very difficult for him to do any truth-telling at this time unless there are people who would put their lives on the line for him,? the source said.

Another Inquirer source said Lozada?s wife told him they had only ?six months? worth of money.