Tomorrow, friends and supporters of Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, one of the star witnesses in the $329.5 million aborted telecommunications deal with China’s ZTE Corp, will trace his harrowing experience with the minions of Gloria Arroyo on Feb. 5, 2008.
There will be a mass at the La Salle Greenhills chapel at 7 p.m.
I sent Lozada questions on his thoughts today and here are his answers:
Q:One year after, you are still living under the protective custody of La Salle brothers and the nuns. Do you regret exposing the NBN/ZTE anomaly? If you can turn back the clock, would you do the same?
Lozada: One year after of exile in our own country under the protective custody of the Christian Brothers of La Salle and the AMRSP, I am still convinced that I did the right thing of exposing to the Filipino people the magnitude and the involvement of GMA, FG and their minions in the large scale corruption that is plundering our nation into poverty.
If I can turn back the clock, I would have taped all of my discussion with the criminals and personalities involved, like how they “tapped” my phone and recorded all of my conversations. Which when “spliced” or re-arranged later on by their military intelligence agents became the primary demolition tool by Fr. Archie Intengan, S.J. to discredit me particularly with the clergy. I could have recorded my talks with Abalos, Atienza, Gaite, Intengan, Neri, Defensor, Razon, etc. But in hindsight, I’ve never accepted that the end justifies the means. I would never resort to something wrong to do achieve something right. Maybe I would still do it exactly as it happened.
Q:What pains you most in what is happening in the country now?
Lozada:What pains me the most right now is to see the evil doers practically getting everything they want. It pains me to see many leaders practically all institutions succumbing to the lure of power, money, prestige, turning our so called moral leaders to a subservient supporters propping up an immoral govt. It pains me to see how our age old societal values such as public decency or kahihiyan, patriotism or makabayan, etc., are being attacked with brazen impunity by these purveyors of deceit.
It pains me to see the Filipino people never before reduced to such state of hopelessness and helplessness. Nasasaktan akong makita na linugom na sa walang katumbas na kawalan ng pag-asa at kakayahan ang ating mga kababayan ng gobyernong ito ni Gloria at ng kanyang mga kampon.
Mas higit sa lahat, it pains me most to see Filipino children eating out of garbage heaps, maybe it revolts me the most because I know for a fact that all of these families and children need not reduce themselves into animal like existence only if the money of the people are not being stolen by those in power. Nakakaiyak sa sakit na alam mong pwede namang hindi sila magkaganun kung hindi lang sana nanakawin ang pera ng mga nasa poder.
Q: Have you ever considered immigrating to other countries?
Lozada: I have never considered migrating to other countries. I have said many times over that the one of the main reason I did what I did is because I love this country. If there is anyone that must be asked to leave this country are those who cause it’s ruins, GMA must go first and the rest of her cabal.
Q: Why do you think Gloria Arroyo is still in Malacanang despite all the anomalies coming out? Lesser anomalies have brought down other governments.
Lozada: My main idea of the reason why GMA is still there despite all the anomalies that have been exposed is their ability to use the power and the money of the gov’t for their own interest. It is their ability to buy support from some media sector by giving directorship to media personality spouses, siblings and relatives to juicy gov’t/GOCCs. It is their ability to buy support from some business sector by legally selling mercantilist trade policies and monopolies to favored cronies. It is their ability to buy support from some religious sector by spreading favor in form assistance from PAGCOR, PCSO, Presidential Social Fund, etc., to the favorite advocacies of influential religious leaders. It is their ability to buy protection from selected military and police generals by assuring them of pre and post retirement benefits as long as they support her regime.
Q:What sustains you throughout these trying times?
Lozada:There is only a few things that keeps me going even in the most difficult times, one is the love and support of my family, the Brothers, the Sisters, a good number of the clergy and religious sector, and what I found most helpful are the genuine affection of total strangers and the respect of the youth.
If there is another thing I discovered to be life changing in terms of sustaining oneself in trying times is this, that if the opposite of fear in the english language is bravery or courage, the opposite of fear in real life is FAITH. I still fear for my life, my family, my livelihood and my future, but I believe and continue to have faith that God is a god of truth and justice. That this God will always triumph even against a powerful president and her mighty army and her billions of pesos.
That’s sending a strong signal to other witnesses and whistle blowers that they cannot fight Malacanang and the Pidal Mafia.
Scandals after scandals. FG Mike Pidal’s name is always on every scandal. The country has suffered so much. The only way is to ACT NOW !
I totally support Jun Lozada! Everything he said is true. I may not be living in the country, but I do love my country and am one of those who are hurting just observing and witnessing (not only through stories from friends and relatives but from media as well) what is happening to my beloved country now!
YES, BE, Now is the time for all Pinoys who care for their country to ACT!!!
We’ve been shouting “ACT NOW” for many years. I’m losing my voice already. This time, I think I would be using my fists.
I agree with you Elvira, datapwa’t mabigat man sa ating kalooban ang nangyayari sa ating Inang Bayan e wala tayong aasahan sa nakakarami nating kababayang Pinoy, mas gugustuhin pa nila ang manood ng teleserye sa Kapamilya o Kapuso channels than to ACT now kasi nga puro sisihan na lang ang nangyayari.
Alam mo, mabilis pa sa sikat ng araw ang mga iyan kung tsismis ang pag-uusapan o kaya showbiz, bakit ka mo…kung saan mayroong artista o palabas ng mga artista ang Pinoy e present, but if the topic or subject ng pag-uusapan e para sa bayan, hay naku…tutulugan ka o kaya iiwanan tayo sa ere.
Tumpak ka diyan, Balweg!
Living in Fantasy na nga ang karamihan sa ating mga kababayan! Namamaos na raw sa kasisigaw si BE, mga bingi pala ang mga Karamihan sa atin! Ang nakakairita kung minsan, sa mga REKLAMO, dyan sila magagaling! In other words, We, should do the ACTING…and they will do da HARVESTING! Pupwede ba ‘yon? Swerte naman nila, ano?
Ang galing nyong tatlo! saludo ako kay BE, Elvira at balweg. Tama kayong tatlo. Matagal na akong wala sa pinas. Going 17yrs na at araw araw nag babasa ako ng balita at nakikinig ng news tungkol sa atin. Mahal ko ang pilipinas at proud ako to be a pinoy. Wag lang pag dating sa politika. Naniniwala din ako kay jun lozada at kilala ko sya personally. Skul mate ko siya noong HS. Isa sya sa mabait na student sa amin noon. Maaring nag bago sya sa mga nag daang panahon. Pero ang kabutihan pa rin ang nanaig sa kanya.
Kaya nilagay ni gloria lahat ng retired sundalo sa pwesto para matigil ang mga planong pag aklas ng mga tao. Kasi kahit papaano mas marami pa rin ang sundalo na nalalagyan ng limpak limpak na salapi ni gloria kaysa sa katulad ni Maj. Ferdinand Marcelino.
Sana matapos na ito at mamatay na ang buong lahi ni gloria at mga galamay nya.
If the number of Filipinos like JLo exceeds the number of crooks serving the Pidals, you can bet your bottom dollar, we will see Gloria and her minions locked up sooner than we can hope for.
Mabuhay ka, JLo! May your tribe increase. Sa totoo lang, pinahanga mo ako sa iyong katapangan. The likes of you is what will make the Philippines a great nation someday—sana malapit na sans the dugong aso!!!
This is why I have about the never-ending scandal. It’s almost 24/7, in-your face harap harapang kurapsyon at mga katarantaduhan sa mga Pinoy. I’m sure kulang ang nailista ko sa dinami daming kurapsyon na nag-mistulang gremlins na naulanan.
Oct 2007 Bribes to Congressman and Governors
Hello Garci 2004 Election Cheating
Macapagal Blvd overpricing
Juetengate
The Euro Generals
Northrail Project
Jose Pidal Bank Account
Jocjoc Bolante Fertilizer scam
Swine scam
NBN/ZTE
Alabang Boys Bribery Case
Legacy Bank’s double your money scheme
World bank contractor scandal
Pacific Plan’s pre-need
JLo: That this God will always triumph even against a powerful president and her mighty army and her billions of pesos.
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Very well stated. God bless your soul, Jun.
Heroically, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada put his life at risk, yet little support from the people that matter most. In the final analysis, it’s the people trusted with the responsibility that evil doers in the gov’t be accountable and prosecuted. Again, the people were awol. More than enough talk, just lacking the walk.
Mabuhay din doon sa mga kapatid, asawa at in-laws ni JLo!
I believe that they are most responsible for the kind of courage and bravery that JLo has been able to muster to be able to do what he has done though not enough to topple the government of a criminal. Tindi ng unity ng mga partido niya kaya hindi siya matitibog sa totoo lang lalo na ng walang kuwentang Baboy Pidal.
The EK of the pandak does not have a space for people like Jun( ayokong gamitin yung Jlo kasi kay Jenifer Lopez na yun). Ang may pwesto ngayon ay ang mga hard core criminals. Those who will never see the light kasi ang nakikita lang nila ay yung kulay ng PERA!
Just like all the other victims of this repressive and oppressive regime of the pandak, HANG IN THERE JUN! Panapanahunan lang yan. When the tide turns, tayo naman but we will make sure that revenge will be sweet. We will not follow the rotten steps of the pandak’s governance.
Jun L, you are a real patriot. the country needs more people like you.
There’s no doubt Lozada is a patriot. But, does he have the support of everyone?
I don’t know with you, but I surely support him both in words and action, including prayers said from the heart!