Luxury life no more for Philippine whistleblower

MANILA (Reuters) - Two weeks ago, Rodolfo Lozada was livingit up in a $700-a-night (350 pound) suite in one of Hong Kong'stop hotels.

Now he sleeps in a sparse, windowless room normallyreserved for priests in a Catholic high school in Manila.

Such is the life of a former government official turnedwhistleblower on state corruption in the Philippines.

"Before, I couldn't sleep because my conscience wasbothering me. Now I can't sleep because the demons are chasingafter me," said the 45-year-old in an interview with Reuters.

Lozada, known to his friends as "Jun", triggered apolitical storm last week when he told a Senate inquiry intogovernment corruption that the Philippines' top electionofficial had demanded $130 million as his cut for an eventual$329 million telecoms deal with China's ZTE Corp.

That was double the usual kickback, said Lozada, who wasbrought in to evaluate the deal because of his background as anelectronics engineer.

The election chief, Benjamin Abalos, brokered the dealbecause of his proximity to senior officials, local newspapershave said.

Abalos has denied any wrongdoing and the telecoms deal hassince been scrapped.

Lozada, who resigned as head of the Philippine Forest Corpthis month, said officials tried to prevent him from testifyingand even fabricated a business trip to keep him overseas.Money, apparently, was not a problem.

During a six day-stint in Hong Kong, Lozada agonised overwhat to do and also indulged in a little retail therapy.

"I (thought) why don't I taste the life of a really, reallyrich man?" he said. "I went to the Louis Vuitton shop, I wenton a shopping spree. I spent like HK$30,000-40,000 (1,900pounds to 2,600 pounds). I wanted to be tempted."

But Lozada, whose basic wage before he resigned fromgovernment was 50,000 pesos (621 pounds) a month, said hisconscience got the better of him and he came home.

The father of five said police officers took him from theplane when it landed in Manila and he feared for his life.

He credits the media with saving him, saying the officersdecided to release him when reports of his "abduction" werebroadcast on local radio.

The police said they were just providing protection inresponse to Lozada's own request.

KIDNAPPING FEAR

Lozada was dropped off at his sons' private Catholic schooland he and his family have been staying there and in other safelocations ever since.

"The physical tension has died down but now it's thepsychological tension that has started to sink in. How do Ifeed and raise a family of 7? How do I go about reintegratingmyself into society?"

He has made an affidavit on paper and on video detailingeverything he says he knows about corruption in government andsays it will be released if anything happens to him.

His five children, who range in age from 15 to 6, are beingkept out of school because of the risk of being kidnapped.

"People say you did the right thing and they cheer you onbut for the children they ask, 'if father did right, why are weon the run? Why are the bad guys not on the run?'," saidLozada.

Normally cool under pressure, Lozada broke down severaltimes during his testimony in the Senate and he now wearsrosary beads around his neck.

His trousers don't fit him anymore.

"I've lost a good 15 pounds (6.8 kg) already. My goodadvice for you is if you have to lose weight, go to the Senateand have the government people chase after you. It's a good wayto lose weight," he said.

Since his testimony, left-wing groups have been calling forthe resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whosehusband was named in the inquiry.

Lozada declines to echo the call but says his actions willonly be worthwhile if Filipinos root out official corruption.

"The value of my action will be determined by the people."

(Reporting by Carmel Crimmins and Manny Mogato; Editing byRaju Gopalakrishnan and David Fogarty)