NBN-ZTE witness Lozada posts travel bond

Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. posted a P180,000 travel bond before the Sandiganbayan 4th Division so that he and his family could take a three-day trip to HongKong and Macau.

The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday confirmed that Lozada posted the travel bond as part of the anti-graft court’s condition before he could leave the country.

Lozada is facing a case for violation of the Anti-Graft Law for allegedly awarding the leasehold right of a 6,599-hectare land to his brother Jose Orlando Lozada without undergoing the application process.

Lozada, who testified against the government in its allegedly anomalous telecommunications transaction with a Chinese firm (NBN-ZTE scandal), pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

He sought the Sandiganbayan’s permission to travel abroad from Nov. 1 to 4. He, his wife Ma. Violeta and his children will be staying at the Venetian Hotel in Macau for a day and will stay for two nights at Disneyland Hotel in HongKong.

In granting his request, among the conditions set by the anti-graft court are his arraignment, posting of P180,000 bond, leaving not earlier than November 1 and returning not later than November 4. Also, within 5 days after his return, Lozada has to appear personally before the anti-graft court’s Clerk of Court to present his stamped passport and a xerox copy.

The anti-graft court said Lozada may then file a motion to withdraw his travel bond.