MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang distanced itself Wednesday from the arrest of whistleblower Rodolfo ?Jun? Lozada, saying the matter was between him and complainant Michael Defensor, former chief of the Presidential Management Staff.

?The Palace, on matters before the proper courts, will always defer to those courts,? Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in a statement.

?Considering the separation of powers, we are not in a position to influence the issuance of a warrant; neither can we order it withheld.?

?This matter of a private aggrieved party, even if he is a former Palace official, exacting judicial redress from Mr. Lozada, even if he is Mr. Lozada, is better left to the judiciary,? he added.

Remonde and Gabriel Claudio, presidential political adviser, also denied that they had attempted to convince Defensor to withdraw the perjury complaint he had filed against Lozada.

Remonde admitted meeting with Defensor two or three days ago and discussing the Lozada case with him ?in passing.?

?I just asked about his take on it,? he recalled. ?But it was not meant to impose on him.?

Claudio said he ran into Defensor last Sunday, but ?never advised [him] on any particular course of action.?