Atienza to Lozada: Don't allow yourself be exploited

"Don't allow yourself be exploited." This was the advice given to Engr Rodolfo Noel Lozada by his former boss, Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr, after he surfaced and narrated irregularities surrounding the $329.5-million ZTE broadband network deal. "Don't allow yourself be exploited. Magamit ka ng mga taong may agenda (Don't allow yourself be exploited by people with agendas)," Atienza, an ally of Malacañang, told dzBB radio in an interview Thursday morning. "He has decide to do whatever he is doing. He is doing it on his own now," Atienza added. Atienza said his concern for Lozada's safety was purely professional and ended with Lozada's resignation and decision to come out and tell all. Before surfacing before dawn Thursday, Lozada headed the Philippine Forest Corp., an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). "He is no longer under my concern here. Ang aking concern, concern ng namumuno sa tauhan na nalalagay sa problematic situation. Kaya ang aking pangangalaga na official concern napuputol na (He is no longer my concern here. My concern for him was for a subordinate in a problematic situation. But now that official concern is cut)," Atienza said. Atienza also insisted there was no effort to kidnap Lozada or prevent him from testifying. Atienza said Lozada's trip to Hong Kong last week was an official trip that Lozada made as head of Philippine Forest Corp. He said Lozada formally notified him regarding the trip, and added that as far as he knows the trip went according to schedule. Atienza also said Lozada feared arrest by Senate sheriffs upon his arrival in Manila Tuesday. "Common sense dictates the man also wanted to recollect himself before facing the Senate and the warrant of arrest that was waiting for him," he said. - GMANews.TV