DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan -- National political figures they both are but former Senator Ramon ‘Jun” Magsaysay of Zambales and former Pangasinan Governor Oscar Orbos chose to be with the supporting crowd at the ‘Mass for Truth, Justice and Peace in this city last Friday (04 April 2008), content in listening at the serious thoughts, and breaking into guffaws and applauses at the light banters of the man of the hour -- Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada.

Sen. Magsaysay earlier joined the horde of Lozada supporters and intermingled with members of people’s organization and concerned citizens from Manila and different parts of Central Luzon (a region north of the capital) at the Lay Formation Center Social Action Apostolate of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese in Dagupan City, Pangasinan ~ a province north of Manila.

Senator Magsaysay later joined the ensuing caravan to the provincial astrodome.

Meanwhile, former Gov. Orbos arrived in time for the mass celebrated by more than 40 priests of the diocese which started at 2 PM. Both stayed up to the end of the forum which lasted past 5 PM.

“We will come to that!”

Asked as to how he thinks of the way the president addressed the ZTE-National Broadband Network project Senator Magsaysay said the President Arroyo simply have to answer three questions regarding the controversy.

“First, how extensively did the president study the project; second, did the President really give Secretary Romulo Neri who was then National Economic Development Authority chief to give the project a priority; and third, why did the president still give the project a go even after alleged(ly) - realizing even if too late; that there was anomaly involve in it?” the Senator propounded.

Asked whether he will now join the ranks of those asking the president to resign from her post, the Senator’s answer was, “We will come to that!”

Tell the truth

Governor Orbos on the other hand says that what’s happening today is an important part of our struggle for democracy – a moral challenge for all of us; and that the government has to tell the truth to ensure that democracy works for the people.

“The Executive Privilege is a concept of the law enshrined in our governance to make sure that the president performs his or her duty properly. But the problem however is that binababoy pa nila ito! (they are making a mockery of it), he candidly said.

As a birthday greeting to the president, Orbos said he hopes she “sees the light,” that it is also “in the spirit of the country’s law that she can resign, but if she don’t want to then that is her call.” xxxxxx