Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Laviña: Focus on more important issues than NBN-ZTE deal By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO City Councilor Peter Laviña urged the public to focus on immediate and more important issues instead of being caught up in the hoopla created by the Senate investigation of the national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal.
Laviña said the Senate probe and the protests over the scandal have diverted the nation away from many fundamental issues such as the national budget and delivery of basic services.
"I am not saying we put a stop to the Senate probe or to the street protests. What I am saying is, let us focus too on other issues at hand. Most importantly, let us not be too generous in according to just anyone the title of 'heroes'," Laviña said in his privilege speech Tuesday.
The councilor said this in the light of having Joey de Venecia and Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. "hailed" by some church leaders, opposition politicians, and civil society groups as the country's new heroes.
"The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain as the country's genuine heroes. They have kept our economy afloat and continue to send remittances that help our development. Yet, in spite of their talents and toil, we neglect their fights and plight," Laviña said.
He added: "And here comes people hailing Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada as our country's new heroes. I beg to disagree. These two are 'fake' heroes. They are more like mercenary whistleblowers to me than heroes. These two are part of the massive corruption that is NBN-ZTE. During their heydays with the greedy gang at Malacañang, they enjoyed all the perks and pomp. Because of a falling out, they spilled the so-called beans," he added.
Laviña said it is "lamentable" that many others -- plain concerned citizens, members of the media, militant cause-oriented groups and well-meaning politicians -- have been exposing scandals in the government but were not billed as heroes.
"I believe it his high time we call a spade, a spade. The real heroes are our OFWS," he said.
The councilor said the Mindanao-wide consultation to be held in Davao City as a preparatory activity for the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila this October would be a "good occasion" to show concern for the OFWs.
The convention is aimed at discussing how to address problems besetting global migration, particularly labor migration. This will be attended by all United Nations member-countries.
"Unfortunately, not much is being said or written about this important international event. And only because the nation is tuned it to the telenovela that is NBN-ZTE," Laviña said.
