Environment Secretary Lito Atienza on Sunday accused Senate star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. of issuing scripted statements about his "abduction" to glorify himself.

"What happened here I think, it was scripted, really intentional. And now he is harvesting his real purpose of self glorification," Atienza said during the program "Diwa ng Katotohanan" aired on government television NBN-4.

Atienza said that it was only lately he realized that Lozada was already coordinating with opposition Senators Panfilo Lacson and Consuelo Madrigal before the witness approached him.

"He was asking our advice when he was already talking way way ahead with Senator Lacson, Senator Madrigal, and I don’t know who else he was walking with," the environment chief said.

Atienza claimed that Lozada, a former subordinate at the government-owned Philippine Forest Corp., set him up so he could launch his "theatrics."

"I have reasons to believe [that I was set up]," he said.

He also defended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who ordered Lozada’s security beefed up shortly after the latter arrived from Hong Kong on February 5.

"I felt bad because he was implicated because I sought his help,"

Atienza said he requested Razon to provide security detail for Lozada who, was reportedly fearing for his life before leaving for Hong Kong.

Razon for his part, reiterated that Lozada was not abducted as he claimed.

He said the conditions underwent by Lozada during his “ordeal” was not consistent with kidnapping.

"He was not restrained. He was able to use his telephone… he sat at the backseat all by himself. He disrobed his coat and removed his shoes. He even placed his feet on the seat during their trip. He could see where they were going to… he was not hood-winked, he was not blindfolded. If it was kidnapping, he would have been hidden. He wouldn’t see where they would go," the PNP chief said.

He added that Lozada was taken to La Salle Greenhills high school campus in Mandaluyong City at his own request.

Razon also noted that Lozada’s family knew that he was arriving at the school since they were already there to meet the Senate witness.