IN FOCUS

ZTE-NBN whistleblower Rodolfo ‘Jun’ Lozada with Roman Polintan of Bayan Central Luzon (middle), Atty. Nery Colmenares of National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (right) and some supporters.

Lozada who has blown the whistle against the first family particularly the First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo and some cabinet officials led by former Commission on Election Commissioner Benjamin Abalos as the ones behind the anomalous USD 329 national broadband project said: “The corruption in the country is neither the making of one single person, nor the work of a few who conspire to rob the people, but the whole system -- the problem is systemic.”

Lozada was met by supporters at the Lay Formation Center (LFC) of the Mary Help Seminary at Bonuan Guiset, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, a province north of Manila.

The half day activity kicked off with a press conference by Lozada, Archbishop Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan Diocese and Sister John Mananzan of the Association of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines at 1PM at the LFC.

Piece of truth

Asked by the media whether he has taken into himself a crusade to work for the ousting of President Glora Macapagal-Arroyo through people power, he answered: “I have but a piece of the truth and I’m bringing it to the people. I sincerely enjoin the others like Committee of Higher Education Secretary Romulo Neri who hold other parts of the truth to share them as the Filipino people deserve the whole of it.”

Probed further whether he has something new to add to what he already revealed to the Senate and the media, Lozada admitted more than the ZTE-NBN anomaly he knows a lot of corruption cases involving some if not the whole ‘greedy group’ and that he may consider revealing them too if the Senate allows him to or when the right time comes.

Agco ed tila!

Bannering the general theme ‘Mass for Truth, Justice and Peace’ the whole mobilization toured him to a 50-plus vehicle caravan on the main streets of the city en route to the provincial astrodome where the words “Agco Ed Tila!” meaning Tama na! Sobra na! Kilos na! (Enough! It’s too much! Let’s act!), were boldly emblazoned at the stage.

Mr. Roman Polintan Chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Central Luzon, one of the organizers of the mobilization said, “This momentous activity clearly belies what is generally perceived as Pangasinan being solidly behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”

“Jun Lozada had province and city gates shut to his face by some pro-Arroyo local government units and dioceses, but he had an energetic and supportive audience here in North and Central Luzon!” Polintan added.

“Mrs. Arroyo, her family and her cabinet cannot expect to hide using the executive privilege which the roofs of the Malacanang Palace afford them, the Filipino masses are awake and will make her answerable for her anti-worker and anti-peasant regime,” Polintan said.

Other organizations who supported the mobilization where Church and Lawyers Peace makers Conference of Central Luzon, the Black and White Movement, Youth Act Now, Bayan Pangasinan, Bayan Muna Partylist, Gabriela Women’s Party, Concerned Citizens Movement, Be Not Afraid Movement, teachers from schools like University of Pangasinan, St. Charles Academy and many other members of the province’s academe. xxx