deputy executive secretary manuel gaite appeared on the february 26 hearing. he had previously said that the p500,000 he gave to lozada's brother was for lozada's expenses while staying at hong kong. gaite said he "can't rationally justify" the reason why he gave lozada the hefty amount. he said that his action "was moved by my conscience and my faith." lozada earlier claimed that the p500,000 was a bribe.