Lozada put on oxygen, dextrose support in hospital

MANILA, Philippines - Detained NBN-ZTE deal mess witness engineer Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. stayed Tuesday night hooked on oxygen and dextrose support in a hospital, a radio report said Wednesday. Radio dzBB reported that Lozada was confined at Room 8837 of the Medical Center Manila, the hospital nearest to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters where he has been detained since April 29. The report said Lozada was brought to the hospital at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, after acting MPD head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay authorized his hospitalization. After spending his first night at the MPD integrated jail Monday night, Lozada had complained of difficulty in breathing. Doctors who examined him also said he was dehydrated. A separate report on dwIZ reported Lozada’s blood pressure had gone down to 100 over 60. While at the MPD integrated jail where at least 27 other inmates were detained, Lozada had his “own" cell but had to use a common comfort room and television set. He was not allowed to make phone calls, but a Manila judge allowed him to be interviewed by media. Lozada was arrested April 29 at La Salle Greenhills based on a court order, stemming from a perjury charge lodged by former presidential chief of staff and defeated senatorial candidate Michael Defensor. Meanwhile, Lozada lashed back at his opponents, who he accused of trying to get back at him by harassing his family. “Sana sabihin ninyo sa nag-asunto sa akin sa nag-file ng charges, ako naman talaga kalaban nila. Ako harapin nila, huwag nila idamay asawa ko at kapatid ko. Kung ako hinahabol nila eto hinaharap ko sila [You tell those who are after me face me. They should not get back at me by harassing my family. If they want me, I am willing to face them]," he said in an earlier interview which was aired on dwIZ Wednesday morning. “Pero tulad ng duwag na kalaban lamang na kalaban di pataas na kalaban dinadaan nila ako sa pamamaraan na alam nila pamilya ko natural mahal ko. Sinisira nila pamilya ko para masaktan ako. Ito isang duwag na pakikipaglaban, walang prinsipyo na pakikipaglaban. Tigilan nila asawa ko at kapatid ko [They are cowards who cannot fight fair. They try to get to me by attacking my family. They should stop such cowardly tactics]," he added. - GMANews.TV