Manila policemen on Wednesday afternoon arrested Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, key witness in the NBN-ZTE deal, from his safehouse at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Greenhills, San Juan City.

The arresting team arrived at the Brother's House past 2 p.m. and served Lozada the warrant of arrest issued by the Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) of Manila Branch 26, which earlier dismissed the perjury case filed by Michael Defensor, President Arroyo's former chief of staff.

The MTC issued the arrest warrant after its ruling was reversed by Judge Cicero Jurado Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11.

ABS-CBN News Channel interviewed Lozada before the arrest, but the whistleblower could not give much details of the arrest.

"I don't even know where I'm being brought to. I'm sorry, my mind is kind of not so clear at this point. Kids want to say goodbye already," Lozada said, who was still on the second floor of the Brother's House.

ABS-CBN correspondent Jeff Canoy said that according to the arresting policemen, they will bring Lozada straight to the Manila Police District headquarters along UN Avenue in Manila.

Canoy reported that Lozada will undergo medical check up before his detention.

Meanwhile, the Manila policemen have allowed the nuns protecting Lozada to accompany him at the police station.

Won't post bail

Lozada earlier said he will not post bail for his temporary liberty to hasten the resolution of the perjury case filed against him by Defensor.

"Kasi kapag nag-bail na naman ako, hahaba na naman. Nakita ko na ang epekto ng ganitong klase na kalagayan sa pamilya ko. Ito ang hakbang ko para mapabilis man lang (Posting bail would only prolong the hearing. I have seen how this kind of situation affects my family. This is my way of at least speeding up the process)," Lozada told radio dzMM.

Judge Jorge Lorredo of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26 has allowed Lozada to post bail after another court ordered his arrest over Defensor's perjury charge against him.

Ironic

Lozada said it was ironic that he will be arrested for "lying." Defensor accused the star witness of making conflicting statements before the Senate and the Court of Appeals regarding the NBN-ZTE deal controversy.

"It hurts because of all the cases filed against me, I will be arrested for lying," he said, adding that he could not believe that of all the liars involved in the scam, he never thought that he will be the one to be ordered arrested by the courts.

Lozada, meanwhile, said that because of this "latest development," sisters and priests at the Brother's House started conducting counselling for his children. He said that according to the nuns, his children's sense of justice have been "completely shattered" by the arrest order.

While admitting that he was not prepared for the arrest, Lozada said he still has no regrets.

He said he will stand by his earlier testimonies on the allegedly anomalous multi-million broadband project between the Philippine government and Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited (ZTE). With a report from Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News