The transfer of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, NBN-ZTE deal star witness, to the Manila City Jail was stalled Thursday after the court judge who issued the arrest warrant against him filed a leave of absence.

A radio dzMM report said that Judge Jorge Emmanuel Loredo of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MMTC) Branch 26 went on leave effective Thursday.

The judge's leave of absence left the Manila Police District (MPD) no choice but to postpone Lozada's transfer to the Manila City Jail.

The MPD needs to secure a commitment order from the MMTC Branch 26 before transferring Lozada from its headquarters to the city jail.

Manila policemen on Wednesday afternoon fetched Lozada from the Brother's House in La Salle-Greenhills after serving the arrest warrant issued by Loredo for a perjury case filed by President Arroyo's former chief of staff, Michael Defensor.

Lozada was allowed to stay at the MPD headquarters' warrant section, where he was joined by his family and friends.

Loredo initially dismissed the perjury case against Lozada. He issued the warrant of arrest after his decision was reversed by Judge Cicero D. Jurado Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11.

The radio report, meanwhile, added that the clerk of court of the MMTC Branch 26 and the Manila City legal office chief Glenda Madeo have agreed to schedule Lozada's arraignment on May 7.

The report added that the arraignment of Lozada’s wife, Violeta, for another perjury case was deferred by Presiding Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar of the MMTC Branch 5.

The arraignment was deferred after Violeta’s lawyers advised the MMTC Branch 5 that they will file a motion for certiorari at the Manila RTC.