Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Bishop urges faithful to rally behind Lozada
KORONADAL CITY -- A senior Catholic bishop here urged fellow bishops and the faithful to rally behind Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the man in the center of the botched National Broadband Network (NBN) deal scandal who implicated high ranking administration officials in the controversy.
Diocese of Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, also the vice chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) Episcopal Commission for Social Action, believed that Lozada was a credible witness and his testimony was good in the quest for truth.
"In my view, we should believe what Jun Lozada has been telling. He puts his life at risk by coming out to tell what he knew [of the NBN deal]. Why would you risk your life if you're going to tell lies and you're under oath [to tell the truth]? And if you lie [in the Senate], in the end it will be discovered," the bishop told a local radio station here in the vernacular.
Gutierrez said Catholic bishops are slated to meet in Manila to discuss what they would do in the wake of the NBN scandal that triggered renewed calls from civil society and militants groups for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from power.
There were also suggestions that the permanent council of the CBCP should make a decision since it is difficult to gather all the bishops in the country, he added.
In a statement last week, CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo extolled Lozada and Jose de Venecia III for their "courageous" testimonies before the Senate on the alleged overpricing and bribery that surrounded ZTE Corp's winning bid for the NBN project.
Lozada was a technical consultant of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), while De Venecia III's firm, Amsterdam Holdings Inc., was a losing bidder for the NBN project.
The two witnesses implicated Benjamin Abalos Sr., former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman, and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to the scandal.
"Their public confession may be considered a providential event that may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals that offend the common good and serve only personal, family and group interests, " the CBCP added.
Lozada told a Senate inquiry that the $329 million cancelled contract with ZTE was overpriced.
Gutierrez said the Arroyo government had "already lost its moral credibility," which was attacked by Catholic bishops through numerous statements; the latest of which was the "Reform Yourselves and Believe in the Gospel."
"Corruption in government continues to rear its ugly head. [Government officials] have subordinated the common good for private good. In other words, greed," the bishop said.
Gutierrez lamented, however, the public attitude, which he described to be "indifferent".
In general, the people no longer care, there is no social conscience [anymore], where if you see evil, you should try to stop it and if you see good, praise it," he said.
Still, Gutierrez urged the faithful to join the call for communal action, saying "Let us come together, pray together, study together, discern together, decide together and act together."
He warned, however, not to resort to violent means in effecting change, noting that what the public must do must be in accordance with the will of God.
Gutierrez said the Congress should come up with a strong legislation to put a stop to the "systematic dysfunctional system" in the government's procurement process, citing the claims of Lozada that public work projects are overpriced by at least 20 percent.
He added the legislation must make the bidding process transparent where the civil society should be allowed to participate in the process.
Gutierrez's diocesan territory includes the cities of Koronadal and General Santos, as well as the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, and parts of Sultan Kudarat. (BSS)
