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SENATORS
who went to the
Ninoy Aquino International
Airport (Naia) for an ocular inspection, and to retrace
the movement of national broadband network (NBN)-deal
investigation witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., stumbled
upon security logbooks that show that Presidential
Security Group (PSG) personnel are among those who
escorted Lozada out of the airport when he arrived
February 5.
Three of
the logbooks were inspected by the senators led by
blue-ribbon committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano.
Senate
President Manuel Villar Jr. and Sens. Gregorio Honasan
and Rodolfo Biazon joined Cayetano in the ocular
inspection of the Naia.
The
discovery of the logbooks was accidental.
When
Cayetano arrived at the ramp gate going up to the
dignitaries lounge, a security guard stopped him to
record his name, which was written on the stick-on pass
that was issued to him.
It was
at this point that Cayetano noted the logbook and
immediately scrutinized the entries for February 5.
Seeing the notations about the entry of the PSG men,
Cayetano asked airport general manager Alfonso Cusi to
have access to the logbooks, which were surrendered to
him.
In a
news conference, Cayetano said he and his companions
were satisfied with the ocular inspection and the result
of their visit, saying that “it was worth three days of
hearing.”
It was
the first time PSG members were found to have been
involved in the alleged abduction of Lozada.
“The
PSG’s presence at the airport to welcome Lozada is
suspicious but not damning,” Cayetano told reporters.
On the
other hand, Cusi said that the investigators should not
put emphasis on the PSG’s presence because some of its
personnel have permanent pass to gain access to the
airport terminal to welcome dignitaries and their
friends and relatives.
“The PSG
has a liaison officer assigned at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport to take care of matters pertaining
to dignitary arrivals and those requiring security
escorts,” Cusi said.
Initially, it was assistant general manager for security
Angel Atutubo and terminal manager Octavio Lina who were
identified as those who accompanied civilian agent
Rodolfo Valeroso in welcoming Lozada shortly after
coming out of a Cathay Pacific airliner that brought him
in from Hong Kong.
This was
shown when the airport closed-circuit television record
was reviewed in the presence of the media.
On
Thursday the senators asked for the airport logbooks and
were given three. The first was the logbook at Ramp Gate
1 where a security guard identified only as “Zacarias”
of the Aviation Security Services Corp. (Passcor)
recorded that at 3:30 p.m., a gray Toyota Corolla Altis
with plate number ZCJ-556 arrived and parked at the ramp
of the Naia 1. Inside were PSG men of still-unknown
number who went up the arrival area.
The
logbook recorded the arrival, at 4:23 p.m., of a Ford
Everest with license plate number WAA-525 and a Nissan
Serena with license plate number ZLI-839. Onboard were
Atutubo and Lina, who immediately went up to the
dignitaries lounge.
Cathay
Pacific Flight CX-919 arrived at 4:39 p.m.
At about
4:50 p.m., the record indicates, the three cars left at
the same time.
According to Lozada, he was alone at the back seat of
one of the cars, with the driver and Valeroso in front,
while Atutubo was allegedly in another car.
Atutubo
told the Senate investigators Monday that he was left at
the tarmac when the cars, escorted by airport police,
sped toward Villamor Air Base.
The
second logbook, kept by Passcor security guard Nelson
Elle at the basement, said that the three cars that
arrived at the same time as recorded in the first book
left at the same time.
In this
book it was recorded that Atutubo, Lina and a man who
identified himself as Senior Police Officer 4 Roger
Valeroso, who turned out to be Rodolfo Valeroso, an
intelligence agent of the National Police Aviation
Security Group, as well as a certain Cpl. Ramilla of the
Airport Police Department, all left at the same time in
different cars.
The
Senate team also asked for the logbook of the Pass
Control Section to determine the names of those who were
given access passes to welcome Lozada.
During a
reenactment of Lozada’s arrival, it was established that
Atutubo was waiting outside the door of the plane while
Valeroso was a few feet away.
Atutubo,
who does not know Lozada, followed only after he saw
Valeroso take Lozada’s passport and hand-carried
luggage.
During a
tour of the passageway where Lozada was taken, Atutubo
said they allowed the former to go to the toilet, which
is adjacent to the elevator that they would use later
on.
At this
point, Honasan asked why they allowed Lozada to enter
the toilet unescorted, whereupon Atutubo said that
“there is no way that Lozada could escape because there
is only one exit and entry point to the toilet.”
After
coming out of the toilet, Lozada was escorted to the
elevator and down the tarmac where the three cars were
waiting.
Airport
employees then tipped off members of the Senate
fact-finding committee that went to the airport.
Senate
President Villar said airport employees volunteered
information, which showed that airport officials could
be hiding the truth.
Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church will continue to be
true to its function as the “sanctuary” for people whose
lives are threatened by the mighty and powerful, said
the former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP).
Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan, who himself
helped two jueteng whistle blowers in the past, noted
that people who come into trouble with authorities
because of what they know in a scandal feel safe seeking
refuge in the Church.
“The
Church has an unwritten law of being a sanctuary. It’s
like people will not go after you when you are in the
Church. It’s like a protection wall,” Cruz said in a
telephone interview. (With C. Jimenez) |
