ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Governors swear loyalty to Arroyo amid Senate NBN probe De Castro hit for belated support against NBN scandal New solons told to file ‘old, rehashed’ bills to learn ropes GALLERY 1 Next   Zoom    RAGE AGAINST CORRUPTION. Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Feliciano Bautista at a press conference where he announced the organization's support for NBN deal whistleblower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. and urged people to join protests scheduled on Friday against government corruption. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/REM ZAMORA Deal or no deal What we can buy with all that ZTE money? It was Lozada who said it, not Neri Damaged institutions protect damagers Sadly, silence has ceased to be golden Swiss court orders return of money to RP Powder stirs anthrax scare in US Embassy Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Arroyo orders ‘war of rapid conclusion’ RP forms anti-Ebola team No LPG shortage -- DOE Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Senate seeks to commend PDEA agent Palace satisfied with PDEA work--Ermita DND: New EO to boost counterinsurgency More Stories » News Palace lists down 2009 holidays Brodetts vs Brodetts Layoffs at Cebu export zone continue German billionaire commits suicide Baguio-based firm to axe more workers BPO growth in 2009 similar to 2008 Suspect is pusher, user--kin ‘Connection system’ rampant in judiciary PDEA says Subic shabu case far from over Virus in pigs may pose human risk News Swiss court orders return of money to RP Mummy of 'ancient Egypt queen' found Death penalty pushed vs drug trafficking SC asked to disbar drug suspects’ lawyer Arroyo orders ‘war of rapid conclusion’ Cops, soldiers make suspects untraceable Kalinga now a major marijuana producer Brodetts vs Brodetts This lawyer should be disbarred Powder stirs anthrax scare in US Embassy Senate seeks to commend PDEA agent Dave Brodett: Cager, character actor   News Most Read RSS Alba Catering Tel.No.: 829.4031/825.4502 Mobile: (0917)5609555/ (0917)8480353 30 Frames Per Second Look for: Paul & Caron Macasaet Tel. No.: 899.2456 Mobile: 0917.8830132 Email: paulmacasaet@yahoo.com

MANILA, Philippines -- The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) voiced support for Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., key witness in the Senate inquiry into the scandal-tainted national broadband network (NBN) deal, and urged people to join street protests scheduled Friday to denounce rampant corruption in the government.

IBP president Feliciano Bautista, in a press conference Wednesday morning, said: “We are greatly appalled and concerned by the revelations made by [Chinese firm] ZTE [Corp.]-NBN deal witness Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada, Jr. during the Senate investigation.”

“We condemn and oppose all kinds of corruption. There could be no ‘moderation of greed,’” he said.

Lozada told the Senate that close allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo demanded kickbacks from the project. He also claimed that former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., who allegedly brokered the deal between the government and ZTE Corp., threatened to kill him.

“We would like to join the parliament of the streets and denounce the violations of the Constitution and the law,” Bautista said.

He added the IBP is ready to help Lozada and to extend legal assistance to all those who might be prosecuted for joining the Friday protest.

Bautista also said the IBP will “take immediate action” on complaints against lawyers who may have violated their oath and ethics in connection with the Senate investigation into the $329-million deal, which was scrapped following allegations of kickbacks and bribery.

While he declined to name lawyers who might face sanctions, Bautista said a lawyer who forces someone to sign documents violates the profession’s Code of Ethics.

In his testimony to the Senate, Lozada claimed lawyer Antonio Bautista made him sign a letter requesting police protection. The lawyer denied Lozada’s claim.

The IBP president said as of now no complaint has been filed against
Bautista yet.

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