While admitting he has been living miserably for months now, National Broadband Network (NBN) scam star witness Engr. Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada says he has come to terms with his and his family’s situation now.
BY ACE ALEGRE
Contributed to Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 11, April 20-26, 2008
BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – While admitting he has been living miserably for months now, National Broadband Network (NBN) scam star witness Engr. Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada says he has come to terms with his and his family’s situation now.
He is “meagerly supported” by nuns, priests and other who “believe him,” he said before journalists and some 100 other participants in an unusually “tight-security” press conference where three journalists were initially barred from entry by nuns because they did not show their press cards. “I chose to have myself in trouble so that you would have peace,” he said at the press conference, which was held at the CRC Hall of the Bishops’ Residence at the Baguio Cathedral.
Lozada said he still sees in some Filipinos an attitude of utter passivity in the midst of his exposé and alleged corruption. He admitted that there are varied reactions to his sorties around the country. “Aside from the support of some, there are those who instead ask me to keep silent, ‘after all, wala din magbabago’ (nothing will change),” he said.
“However, I tell them we must change our attitude,” he continued. “For me, when I went to the Senate, I wanted to save my own conscience. This is now the crusade I found myself in now.”
Lozada also said that had he chosen to shut his mouth, maybe he would have money now.
“But that night on Feb. 6, he said, I had a conscience call,” he said. “I’d rather have peace than silence. There will be no peace, if there is no truth. There will be no truth without justice.”
The whistleblower who arrived here Tuesday morning almost sounded tired although he managed to smile as he walked toward his vehicle with nuns as his security cordon.
“I hope the (battle) is not too long,” he said. “It depends on how people will demand (change). Maybe if half of the Filipino people demands it, matatapos na ang kalbaryo na ito (these hardships we are facing will end).”
Hours before he spoke to journalists, huge tarpaulins questioning his credibility were posted in different locations in the city. The tarpaulins however mysteriously vanished at around 9 a.m.. It was not known who were behind the tarpaulins.
After meeting journalists, Lozada went with Mo. Mary John Mananzan to a forum at the Saint Louis Center, a high school compound along Assumption Road. Contributed to (Bulatlat.com)
