PIMENTEL LAUGHS OFF ABALOS' NUISANCE LIBEL SUIT
AGAINST LOZADA

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the threat of former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos to sue ZTE-NBN probe witness Rodolfo Lozada, Jr. for libel is nothing more than a cheap ploy to conceal his guilt and frighten people who have dared to expose his abominable role in the overpriced $329 million national broadband network contract.

"Criminals should be punished regardless of race but Lozada should not be crucified by Pharisees in the Arroyo government for telling the truth. Truth has no color. It sets use free whoever is the source," he said.

Pimentel said Abalos may even be bluffing by dangling the libel threat, recalling that the ex-Comelec chief, also threatened to file a libel case against businessman Jose de Venecia III who had accused him of being the mastermind behind the NBN scam. But he said nothing has come out of Abalos threat.

He said the planned libel suit against Lozada is no different from string of nuisance libel complaints filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo against 47 journalists which have all been subsequently dropped at his behest to ease the burden on his conscience.

"Rodolfo Lozada and Joey de Venecia can sleep tight even in the face of threats of Abalos to file libel charges against him," Pimentel said.

"Truth is a defense in libel cases especially those that are filed by public officials or people who feel maligned by criticisms arising from the performance of their public duties."

Abalos however insists he never demanded any commission from ZTE officials and nor offered bribe money to anyone to secure the approval of the ZTE-NBN contract.

If Abalos is saying allegations against him are baseless and ridiculous, Pimentel asked why he resigned as Comelec chairman last October?

Advising Lozada and the young De Venecia to be steadfast in the face of the smear and harassment campaign against them, Pimentel said: "The law is on their side. And the truth is their shield that will set them free."

Noting published statement of Mr. Abalos to file a P200 million libel suit against Lozada, Pimentel commented:

"Is it coincidental that Abalos is claiming a P200 million damage compensation from Lozada? P200 million is the amount Abalos was said to have told Romulo Neri that 'mayroon ka ditong 200,' secretary."