Thursday, April 17, 2008 Lozada longs for 'normal' life
THREE months since being forced into the limelight with his revelations on the anomalous national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE, star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. wants things to go back to normal.
But the road to his dream will be long and hard since he set a goal for himself. He will only quit his advocacy of searching for the truth after 50 percent of Filipinos also wake up to his call.
The famed witness recognized the passiveness of Filipinos especially in political undertakings that he is willing to continue touring the provinces so he can reach more people with his message.
In a gathering at the Truth Center at the CRC Hall Bishop's House, Lozada narrated how much his life has changed since he decided to disclose what he knows of the NBN-ZTE deal.
He said beyond seeing his children sleep on the floor and accepting donations from various organizations and individuals to support his family's needs, living a "prisoner's" life is the worse part of his decision.
Halfway through summer and his children are still confined where the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) houses his family.
"Somebody asked me why I still need to continue what I have started. I could have stopped and returned to living a normal life again," Lozada said, "but we have allowed a lot of issues to pass already. The fertilizer scam, the 'Hello Garci' tape, and would-have-been automated counting machines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) passed the attention of the people. Hope is one thing we should not let go of anymore."
He stressed that corruption is now plaguing the country. He implored for Filipinos to take matters into their own hands so their future could be secured.
He believed that with 50 percent of Filipinos joining his search for the truth, corruption in government will be minimized and funds intended for development projects will be fully utilized. This, he added, will ensure their future as well.
"I hope (what I am doing now) will not take too long, but everything depends on how long (it will take) for Filipinos to demand for the truth in the NBN-ZTE deal."
For now, Lozada has time to think about writing about a book on his experiences. "I am already drawing the chicken inasal (which will form part of the book's cover)."
Asked about his children, he said: "The last thing on their minds at the end of the day is to finally come home peacefully after this distress, and by home I mean the home I invested in before this infamous transaction took place." (AR)
