BY BULATLAT
As Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. spent his fifth day in detention today, his friends, colleagues and supporters organized a petition drive and prayer vigil in front of the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters where the star witness in the $329-million NBN-ZTE scandal is being held.
Dubbed “Panalanging Bayan Para Sa Katotohanan at Katarungan” (People’s Prayer for Truth and Justice”), the activity was initiated by the PAGBABAGO! People’s Movement for Change, a group that Lozada helped establish before he was arrested on charges of perjury filed by former Arroyo aide Mike Defensor.
Professor Judy Taguiwalo, University of the Philippines Faculty Regent and PAGBABAGO! organizing committee member said that prayer vigils would be organized every day until the eve of Lozada’s scheduled arraignment on Thursday, May 7.
Taguiwalo said, “Jun bravely stood for what is moral and just when he spilled the beans on the First Gentleman, Ben Abalos and others involved in the overpriced NBN-ZTE deal and deserves our wholehearted support.”
The PAGBABAGO! is a newly-formed coalition of ‘reform-minded’ individuals, including personalities active in the campaign to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Other members of the organizing committee include Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB; Fr. Joe Dizon (Solidarity Philippines); Bibeth Orteza; Edith Burgos (Desaparecidos); Dr. Carol Araullo (Bayan); Ramon Paterno (UP Manila); Prof. Roland Tolentino (Contend-UP); Maita Gomez; Rey Casambre (Philippine Peace Center), among others.
Leonardo Sabino (Promotion of Church People’s Response); Sonny Africa (IBON Foundation); Roneo Clamor (Karapatan); Franz Castro (Quezon City Public School Teachers Association); Leni Jara (Council for Health Development); Francis Gealogo (Ateneo-Alliance of Concerned Teachers); Arlene Brosas (Akap Bata); Rick Bahaque (Computer Professionals Union); Dr. Giovanni Tapang (Agham); and, Teri Ridon (League of Filipino Students) are also members of the PAGBABAGO!
In its petition, the group said, “We believe that the arrest and detention of Lozada, while those involved in NBN scandal today remain free and continue to enrich themselves, is a mockery of the justice system.”
“It gravely undermines any serious effort to institute accountability and honesty in government. It sends a chilling message to potential whistleblowers against corruption and all forms of wrongdoing in government that their sacrifices will be met with unrelenting political persecution,” the petition added.
Taguiwalo called on all Filipinos to join the ‘continuing fight against corruption and injustice.’ “The Arroyo administration’s persecution of Lozada has exposed how easily the justice system is manipulated by the powers-that-be and has rejuvenated the campaign to uphold the truth in the NBN-ZTE scandal and the numerous crimes that this government must answer for,” Taguiwalo added.
