Press Release
February 14, 2008

Villar wants Cathay Pacific ground crew to appear in the Senate on Monday

Senate President Manny Villar today requested the Blue Ribbon committee to invite Cathay Pacific airlines ground crew on duty when Rodolfo Lozada was allegedly kidnapped at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last February 5.

"In order to have a clearer picture of this 'airport chapter' of the Senate investigation on the National Broadband Network-ZTE deal, we would like to hear the ground crew's account of what they saw when Flight CX 919 arrived," Villar said shortly before senators and airport officials commence the walk-through at the NAIA.

Villar said the testimony of the ground staff could provide the details and could help senators identify where culpability lies in the alleged kidnapping of the main witness on the Senate investigation on the $329 million deal.

Villar said he is also requesting Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Adolfo Cusi to provide the committee with the airport logbooks recording the vehicles entering and exiting the tarmac during the hearing scheduled on Monday (February 18).

"We are also asking GM Cusi to tell us who or what office requested for the airport passes of Mr. Valeroso and his companions," he added.

The Nacionalista Party president said the ocular inspection tracing the movement of Lozada and the men who picked him up from the tube, also provided them the opportunity to check the airport security in place.

"We will also be requiring airport officials to explain why Lozada, who is an ordinary government official, had to be rerouted upon his arrival in Manila. If it can be proven that airport officials were involved in the alleged kidnapping of Lozada, it doesn't speak well of NAIA's security," Villar said.

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