MANILA, Philippines -- Contributions for the legal defense and protection of Senate star witness Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. have reached P186,253.75 in just two days, according to Sr. Estrella Castalone of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP).

Castalone said the collection, called the AMRSP Sanctuary Fund, was presented to Lozada on Friday night but he said he did not want any of it, at least not for his personal use.

“But we are reserving it for his legal expenses. We initiated this in response to the many requests from people, in advertisements and text messages, who wanted to help Lozada,” Castalone said.

Castalone said the money generated from this fund-raising activity will also be used to help other witnesses on corrupt government transactions.

“It’s not just for Jun Lozada but he will be the first beneficiary,” she said.

She said the fund was an extension of the Church’s sanctuary program which offers shelter and assistance with health services for those whose lives are under threat.

She said that a similar fund drive, called “Piso Para Kay Lozada,” was earlier initiated by a concerned citizens movement and that the proceeds from that drive have been turned over to the AMRSP Sanctuary Fund.

Castalone said that with the “horror and extent of corruption in government,” the fund-raising campaign could last a long time.

She said the idea to raise funds for Lozada’s legal expenses came from Sen. Francis Pangilinan who suggested it during one of the Senate hearings. Pangilinan noted that Lozada would be powerless to defend himself once his testimony at the Senate was over.

Pangilinan said the Senate could not simply drop Lozada and his family and leave them to fend for themselves once the Senate hearings are over.

“We have a moral obligation to secure support for his security even after the hearings have been concluded,” he said.

“After all, he would not have been placed in such a situation had it not been for the warrant of arrest that compelled him to testify before the Senate,” he said.

Pangilinan said the government’s Witness Protection Program has its problems since it is being administered by the Department of Justice, whose head, the justice secretary, is the alter ego of the President.

“How can a witness who has identified the First Gentleman as being involved in the transaction be secured in a program administered by the alter ego of the President?” he said.

Pangilinan has filed Senate Bill 2081 which seeks to remove from the DOJ the authority and jurisdiction over witnesses testifying in legislative hearings. He wants the responsibility placed with the Senate or House of Representatives.

Donations to the AMRSP Sanctuary Fund may be sent to the AMRSP Secretariat, 28 Acacia St. New Manila, Quezon City, telephone numbers 7244434 and 4485644, or deposited directly to MBTC Account No. 3259-07445-3, under the account name AMRSP Special Funds (Sanctuary Fund).