MANILA, Philippines -- Pangasinan Representative Jose De Venecia said Friday he and former president Joseph Estrada agreed Senate witness Rodolfo Lozada's being taken into custody by the police should be "condemned."

De Venecia and Estrada had dinner with their respective spouses at the ousted Speaker's residence in Makati City on Thursday night. Opposition leaders also joined the dinner.

"(It should be) condemned and fully investigated," De Venecia said of what he and Estrada thought of Lozada's being taken from his plane at the airport even before he could have a chance to meet his loved ones at the arrival area.

In light of Lozada's testimony at the Senate linking First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to alleged corruption in the national broadband network scandal, De Venecia said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should implement a moral revolution and crack down aggressively on corruption and bribery.

"She should take action now before she is completely beleaguered and forced into inaction," De Venecia said.

De Venecia said Ms Arroyo should allow Commission on Higher Education Chairman Romulo Neri to testify and complete his testimony before the Senate on what he knows about the alleged anomalous contract.

"She should. Then she will be a great President," De Venecia said.

Reached for comment, Estrada said Lozada appeared to be a credible witness in corroborating the earlier testimonies of Jose De Venecia III and Neri.

"It looks like he's telling truth. His statements and those of (Jose ?Joey? de Venecia III and Neri) jibe," Estrada said.

Estrada said the ZTE-NBN deal would not have happened under his watch.

"All contracts (worth) P50 million and above are reviewed by the Office of the President," Estrada said.

"And after review, I would have (then Finance Secretary Jose) Pardo review the contract.... Only after he has `initialed' the deal will I sign it," he added.