Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Guv welcomes Lozada to Pampanga By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- While about 500 Kapampangans, including some local government officials, greeted national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE deal star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. with hostile streamers, Governor Eddie Panlilio welcomed him at the St. Scholastica's Academy here on Sunday.
Panlilio and some supporters, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and lawyer Etta Rosales were among those who graced the "Journey for Truth" forum of Lozada at the Catholic school being run by the Orders of St. Benedict (OSB) sisters.
The priest-turned-governor, himself a whistle-blower in last year's alleged payoff at Malacañang, told local journalists that Lozada is welcome in his province. He said anybody who is searching for the truth is welcome in Pampanga.
Panlilio reportedly left the school at 8 p.m.
Lozada was greeted by hostile streamers and about 500 rallyists belonging to the Kongreso ng Mamamayan sa Central Luzon, local government officials and barangay leaders in front of the St. Scholastica's Academy.
Sister Cecile Ruiz, representative of the Church and Lawyers Peacemakers Conference (CLPC), said earlier that the forum was part of the Ecumenical Service and Forum, dubbed "A Journey for Truth" sponsored by the conveners' group of a new formation known as "Deng Manalacaran Queng Catutuan" (Those who Stand for Truth) (DMC). She said this initiative was in line with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) call for communal action.
"We want Kapampangans to discern and uphold truth behind Lozada's revelation of alleged corruption and irregularities that attended the controversial NBN-ZTE deal and from there, take positive action towards integrity and good governance," Ruiz said.
However, the Kapampangans outside the school had different views. The rallyists even burned an effigy of Lozada.
Abel Montemayor, a farmer leader in Floridablanca, said they will not allow Lozada to damage the good reputation of Pampanga's favorite daughter (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), saying farmers are sick of lies and destabilization attempts against the present administration. He said Arroyo "is an effective leader."
Floridablanca Mayor Eddie Guerrero said if indeed Lozada is telling the truth, he should file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman or the courts, instead of going around universities and schools promoting his "smear campaign" against the President.
Guerrero said the province and the country are losing job opportunities and investors because of the destabilization attempts allegedly being lodged by Lozada's handlers, adding that the Filipino people must not be deceived by such "lies which do not even have an ounce of truth," but are merely hearsay aimed at destroying the good reputation of Mrs. Arroyo.
Board Member Jojo Simpauco, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Pampanga, said more than 500 barangay leaders in the province have pledged their unwavering support to the President and that the league will support her until she finishes her term in 2010.
Conscience chairwoman Lolita Hizon said Lozada should not be welcomed by Kapampangans, as his "smear campaign" against Arroyo which aimed only at "destabilizing" the present administration.
For his part, Lozada said he would still continue visiting colleges and universities where he is invited to speak, adding that he still feels welcome in Pampanga despite the rally. He said he has nothing against the Kapampangans but added that he's sure that "someone" is backing the rallyists.
"It's (rally against him) part of the things that have been happening whenever I speak in public. These, I believe, are the things you get when you're in search for truth," he said, adding that his life as a whistle-blower was not easy, having to endure other forms of "harassments" from people and entities who oppose his search for the "truth."
In his speech, Lozada hoped that Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairman Romulo Neri would still come out and say his part of the truth in the NBN-ZTE controversy. "He may seem to be at peace with himself but I know that deep inside he is troubled," he said.
Lozada added that there are two lessons that he wants to impart among Kapampangans. He said he learned these lessons from coming out as a whistle-blower. One was that people should encourage people who know the truth. He also said that the most important lesson he learned was that people should not be at ease with knowing that there is something wrong with the government.
About 334 people, mostly members of religious community, as shown by the gathering's attendance sheet, came to the mass and forum.
