Lozada testifies on NBN-ZTE deal at Senate

Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr., a former technical consultant to the National Economic and Development Authority, testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on February 26, 2008 regarding the $329 million National Broadband Network contract with China's ZTE Corporation. Lozada described meetings, conversations, and amounts of money he alleged were demanded in connection with the deal, naming senior officials of the Arroyo administration. He also recounted what he described as an attempt to prevent his testimony, including his detention upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on February 5, 2008. The NBN-ZTE contract had been cancelled by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in October 2007 following the initial controversy. The Senate inquiry produced a Blue Ribbon Committee report recommending charges against multiple officials. Sandiganbayan and Office of the Ombudsman proceedings related to Lozada's testimony continued for years and produced a mix of resolutions, several of them adverse to the prosecution. Lozada himself faced subsequent perjury cases brought by parties he named, which were separately litigated.