MANILA, Philippines -- Opposition senators on Friday said the testimony the Senate of a government official who appeared on television to tearfully accuse Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., key witness in the inquiry into the scandal-tainted national broadband network (NBN) deal, of corruption would be irrelevant to the probe.

Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde called on the Senate to allot Erwin Santos, officer-in-charge of Philippine Forest Corp., which Lozada once headed, the same time it gave Lozada to testify.

But Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Santos's appearance on government-owned NBN 4 "was set up to elicit sympathy." "Palagay ko hindi mananalo ng Oscar yun [I don't think he will win an Oscar]," he said.

He added that Santos's revelations are unlikely to make a dent in Lozada's credibility, even as he dared Santos to file charges against his former boss if he has the evidence.

"If he has a case against Mr. Lozada, then file it. He should also include [resigned poll chief Benjamin] Abalos [Sr.] and [former economic planning secretary Romulo] Neri," he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson Pimentel's sentiment. "May alam ba sa ZTE si Santos? Kung wala, ano'ng sasabihin nya bukod sa mag-emote sa hearing? Graduate na kami sa iyakan [Does Santos know anything about ZTE? If none, what will he say aside from emoting in the hearing. We've had too much crying]," Lacson

ZTE is the Chinese firm which won the $329-million NBN contract that was scrapped following allegations it was overpriced and tainted with kickbacks. Abalos and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo have been implicated in the alleged anomalies.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate blue-ribbon committee spearheading the investigation into the NBN controversy, said Santos's testimony before the Senate would not serve any purpose.

"[Lozada] never said he was a saint. He said he can and is willing to answer charges of wrongdoing and so far his testimony is consistent," he said, adding that the Santos interview was meant as a distraction.

Cayetano said the Senate inquiry should focus on Lozada's alleged abduction by state security agents, the need for an NBN, if the deal was indeed marred by kickbacks, and reforms in the procurement process to prevent more anomalies.

"Mr. J. Lo [the nickname given Lozada] gave many [people] hope that something would come out of his testimony. That something should be at least hope and faith that issues be discussed, the whole truth revealed, and tangible, pragmatic, implementable reforms to laws from witness and whistle-blower protection, to safeguards in loan agreements and government procurement, to transparency and people's right to information, and so many other laws which lead to good governance," he said.