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The 14- year cycle as observed by Jun Lozada

September 22, 2013September 22, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

17 years ago. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Last Saturday, I saw a front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the Facebook wall of Pablo Tariman.

The headline was “Congress kickbacks:how much for whom”. There was an illuThe story was about pork barrel and there was an illustration using a lechon and how the roasted swine was being divided.

The upper fold story was “MNLF occupies four more towns in Zambo.” Another story was “Higher gas price begins tomorrow.”

I thought that was last Saturday’s issue until I noticed the initials CIA (Congressional Initiative Allocation) and CDF (Countrywide Development Fund). Those were the old name of PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) .

A closer look at the page showed the date: Aug. 13, 1996.

Yes, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

I remembered something that NBN/ZTE star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada shared with the Concerned Citizens Movement sometime ago.

It was a graph showing a 14-year cycle of Philippine History titled, “Rupture of the 14 years cycle of Philippine History.”

Jun said during the time that he was under the shelter of the De La Salle Brothers during the Arroyo administration (The danger to his life has not waned with Arroyo out of power.Jun has sought refuge again with the Religious.) with a lot of time for reflection, he put down in writing his observations of a pattern in Philippine history. An electronics and communications engineer, Jun is scientific in his approach.

Jun Lozada still marching. Aug. 26 rally.

He observed a “rupture every 14 years:”

1888 – A few months earlier, Jose Rizal returns from Europe bringing home the Noli me Tangere; beginning the awakening of Filipino patriotism.

1902 – Full American occupation of the Philippines., regime change from Filipino revolutionary government to American colonial rule.

1916 – Jones Law (Phil. Autonomy Act), regime change from Philippine. Commission to the two houses of the Senate and the Congress.

1930 – Hare Hawes Cutting Law, promise of Philippine independence from American colonial rule leading to the Tydings-McDuffie Law.

1944 – Return of Gen. Douglas McArthur, regime change from Japanese to American.

1958 – Death of President RamonMagsaysay in 1957, regime change to Carlos P.Garcia

1972 – Martial Law, regime change from democratic to authoritarian.

1986 – EDSA Revolution, regime change Ferdinand Marcos to Cory Aquino.

2000 – Joseph Estrada impeachment, regime change Estrada to Gloria Arroyo.

2014 –Will the 14-year rupture occur again or will it be broken after more than a century of continuous rupture?

Jun said,” This is not being presented as scholarly work on Philippine history but rather an observation of a curious engineer.”

We owe whistleblowers

July 16, 2013July 16, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

Two news items yesterday recall to mind NBN/ZTE star whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada and his meeting with President Aquino in Malacanang last February.

Benhur Luy, exposed Janet Napoles vast network of corruption

The first news item was about the statement of the lawyer of Jane L. Napoles, who is in the center of the alleged P10 billion pork barrel scam, to file administrative and criminal charges against whistleblower Benhur Luy, formerly Napoles personal assistant.

The other news item was the downgrading by the Court of Appeals into “simple misconduct” of the Ombudsman’s ruling finding him guilty of grave misconduct for his role in the aborted $329 million National Broadband Network deal with the Chinese telecommunication firm, ZTE.

Romy Neri, for hiding the truth from the public, just a ‘simple miscounduct.’

Why Jun Lozada?

The two news items illustrate the risks that a whistleblower has to face if he decides to take on bigtime operators who have built deep and wide network within the government.

In the NBN/ZTE controversy, second only to the Hello Garci scandal as far as negative impact on the Arroyo administration, both Neri and Lozada were privy to the behind the scenes machinations that tripled the cost of the telecommuncations project.

Neri’s damning revelations of former Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos (“Sec, may 200 ka dito”) role in a project that was unrelated to elections, indicated the level of corruption of that deal. Sad to say, Neri decided to stop there.

Taking refuge under the doctrine of “executive privilege” Neri saved Gloria Arroyo.

Portrait of a beleaguered whistleblower.

Neri’s buddy,Jun Lozada opted to tell what he knows about the deal supporting the testimony of another whistleblower, Joey de Venecia, about the role of Mike Arroyo, husband of Gloria Arroyo, in the deal.

The decision to testify for the government turned Lozada’s life upside down. He was kidnapped upon arrival from Hongkong and he was charged with plunder by his deputy in the Philippine Forest Corporation. Lozada is currently out on bail.

He continues to be the star witness in the NBN/ZTE deal which is being tried by the Sandiganbayan, the same court that tries his plunder case.

Last February, Lozada accompanied by three friends and supporters, one of them, crusader Sr Mary John Mananzan, met with the President in Malacañang and they told the President the weird situation where the star witness in the high profile graft case is being prosecuted for plunder in another case.

The President told them that he cannot intervene in the justice proceedings. What he could do, Lozada quoted the President as having said, if he (Lozada) would be convicted, he could commute the sentence or pardon him.

A very much dismayed Mananzan remarked, “What’s going to happen to your anti-corruption campaign? What’s going to happen to the NBN/ZTE case if Jun is convicted?”

Lozada said the President replied that the government is having second thoughts about pursuing the case because anyway no harm was done to the Filipino people .

With the slap on Neri’s wrist of “simple misconduct” while Lozada faces plunder, Gloria Arroyo and her associates must be rolling in laughter.

Yesterday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she wants to put Luy under the Witness Protection Program as she said, she is aware of the danger that whistleblower faces. It is hoped that the protection stays until the masterminds of the scam are punished. The country owes these whistleblowers.

Why is Aquino not helping Jun Lozada

February 7, 2013February 7, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

Lozada’s friends wonder if Aquino’s attitude could have something to do with Lozada not consenting to his request in February 2008 for him (Aquino, who was then senator) to fetch the former in Hongkong, where he was told by then Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to hide so he could not testify in the Senate investigation of the NBN/ZTE deal.

It would have been a chance for Aquino, who had a lackluster record as senator, to shine.

President Cory Aquino spearheaded the “Mass for Truth and Accountability” in support of Jun Lozada in 2008.

While waiting for the arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division to be served to Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, the government’s star witness in the NBN/ZTE plunder case against Gloria Arroyo, members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines wrote Police Chief Alan Purisima requesting, among others,to make sure that “no untoward incident” would happen.

The nuns must be thinking of last month’s incident in Batangas when Fernando Morales , allegedly linked with Vic Siman who was among those killed in the Atimonan massacre, was killed while policemen were serving his arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms.

Morales was in his underwear and was dragged out of his house at 1:30 a.m.

The arrest warrant for Lozada had nothing to do with NBN/ZTE. It’s for his alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly awarding the leasehold right of a 6,599 hectare land to his brother Jose Orlando Lozada when he was still president of the Philippine Forest Corporation, a government-owned corporation.

Jose Orlando availed of a board-approved program of the PFC.

A P30,000 bail each was set for the temporary liberty of Lozada and his brother. Lozada has returned to the sanctuary of the Religious again, just like when he was testifying on the $320 million telecommunications deal, one of the biggest scandals in the Arroyo administrations.

Last Wednesday, the nuns who support Lozada met with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Social Services Dinky Soliman and Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

It will be recalled that the La Salle Religious community, of which Luistro was a member, provided Lozada and his family sanctuary when Gloria Arroyo was in power. Luistro together with Soliman actively supported Lozada’s crusade against Arroyo. Press Secretary Edwin Lacierda was Lozada’s lawyer.

The nuns complained why Erwin Santos, who was Arroyo hatchet man against Lozada, continues to be president of PFC.

Sources said the cabinet members told the nuns that Lozada is “out of President Aquino’s hands.” The appointment of Santos is the responsibility of Cesar L.Villanueva, chairman of Governance Commission for Government-owned- and -controlled Corporations, they said.

The nuns, it seems, are not satisfied with the explanation because they are seeking an audience with the President.

Supporters of Aquino who marched with Lozada against Arroyo are puzzled with Aquino’s icy, even adverse, attitude towards the whistleblower. The President had intervened directly in the case of Grace Padaca, even paying with his own money for her bail. The DOJ removed from the list of accused in the Ampatuan massacre the name of Norie Unas, the chief of staff of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., whom they used as star witness against Arroyo in the hastily- prepared electoral sabotage case.

It would have been a chance for Aquino, who had a lackluster record as senator, to shine.

Actually, it was not only Aquino that Lozada turned down. A number of politicians, businessmen, lawyers, and members of media offered but his decision was he would only go with the Religious.

Which was what he did when he surfaced after being waylaid by police authorities upon his arrival from Hongkong.

In the course of his testimony in the NBN/ZTE case, Lozada stepped on powerful toes who continue to wield clout even with the change of political leadership. That’s what he and his family are concerned about. They still remember Marlene Esperat, the star witness in the Fertilizer scam, who was gunned down in front of her children.

Lozada said he will abide by the law. He is not running from justice. He is just being careful.

Lozada finds no support from Aquino

February 5, 2013February 5, 2013 Ellen Leave a comment

Jun Lozada attending a Palm Sunday mass while under the protection of the nuns.

For Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, star witness in NBN/ZTE deal, one of the biggest scandals in the Arroyo administration, it’s like he and his family are back to where they were exactly five years ago when he was abducted by police officers and he had to seek refuge with the nuns.

They were informed by members of the Pasig City Police that the Sandigan Bayan has issued an arrest warrant for Lozada in connection with a graft case filed by Erwin Santos, the current president of Philippines Forest Corporation , and Arroyo’s hatchet man when the former was a resource person in the Senate investigation on the anomalous $320 million telecommunications.

It’s disturbing. So alarming that today (Feb.6), members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines are meeting with some members of the Aquino cabinet at the Department of Justice at 9 a.m.on Lozada’s situation. Would Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda be there? Lacierda was the lawyer of Lozada when they were still working to bring down Gloria Arroyo.

Last Saturday, Lozada wrote close friends and supporters after getting a frantic call from his wife, Violet. Excerpts from that letter:

“Early this morning of Feb. 2, 2013 around a little past 7AM, elements of the Pasig City Police came to my house looking for me. Violet, who was home at the time, spoke with them. They told her of the arrest warrant that had been issued against me by the Sandigan Bayan based upon the charges brought to me by the Ombudsman, (approved by Conchita Carpio Morales.)

“They also told her that by this time they are certain that my arrest warrant has been received by the other law enforcement units… CIDG, NBI, etc. They told her that it would be wise for me to post bail because I can be arrested anytime, anywhere. After which they left our home. (I somehow have this funny feeling why they will go to such length. For I see no plausible reason why they would be so charitable to us to deserve their advice.)

“Violet is so freaked out after the police left when she called me. I’m assuming due to the recent incident in Batangas where the police served an arrest warrant to a man suspected of some involvement with jueteng. The man peacefully went with the police dressed only in his briefs, because he was not even allowed to wear his pants. About 50 meters away from the house where the man was taken, he was shot dead with the explanation that he attempted to shot one the arresting policemen. “

Lozada was referring to Fernando Morales, allegedly a member of the jueteng network of Vic Siman who was among those killed in an ambush in Atimonan, Quezon last month.

Lozada led the call for Arroyo to step down at the height of the NBN/ZTE scandal. Another whistleblower, Dante Madriaga, at the extreme left.

The police visit also reminds the Lozadas of the traumatic experience upon his arrival from Hongkong afternoon of on Feb. 5, 2008. He was personally met at the airport by airport and police officers including NAIA Assistant General Manager Angel Atutubo, then Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen of the Police Security and Protection Office, Senior Superintendent Paul Mascariñas, and retired master Sergeant Rodolfo Valeroso working with the Aviation Security Group.

He was brought to Laguna and Libis, during which time he met with former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor who gave him P50,000 and told him to call a press conference and deny that he was kidnapped.

It was during that circuitous journey home that Lozada had his sort of epiphany. If before that he was unsure of whether take the “safer” option chosen by his good friend Romy Neri, who kept quiet, he decided to do his share for the Filipino people and tell all what he knows of the project that would have defrauded the Filipino people of P14.8 billion.

Lozada surfaced on Feb. 7, 2008 in a 2 a.m. conference at La Salle Greenhills and confirmed that persons close to Malacañang had a hand in his kidnapping, which is related to the ZTE deal.

The decision to take on Arroyo and her “greedy group”, in the words of another NBE/ZTE witness, Dante Madriaga, drastically changed Lozada’s life. He and his family lived under the sanctuary of the De La Salle brothers for two- and-a- half years that Arroyo was in power.

In his email, Lozada said “I feel so bad to let her (Violet) go through these tribulations all over again, especially that she is alone at home. It was different when we were at the sanctuary, somehow it has a built -in support mechanism which she can lean on during times like these.”

With Arroyo out of power, Lozada does not feel the supposed change under the Aquino administration. He is continuously being prosecuted while many of those who were allies of Arroyo are very much part of the Aquino administration.

A prosecutor involved in the plunder case against Arroyo et al on the NBN/ZTE deal, asked Lozada awkwardly if he would still be a government witness even if the government is also trying to jail him on the PFC case.

Lozada told him his being a witness in the NBN/ZTE case is “duty to the Filipino people.”

In his email, Lozada said, “Personally, I am angry and hurt at the same time that this is happening under this administration…The pain is always deeper when my family is the one getting hurt. “

He added:“Hindi ako sumisingil ng utang na loob sa mga nakapuwesto ngayon, lalo na sa mga Aquino at mga kabinete niya. Pero itong patuloy niyang pagkukupkop sa kaisa-isang testigo ni Gloria Arroyo sa akin bilang presidente ng Phil. Forest Corp sa loob ng halos 3 taong niyang pagiging pangulo. Ito ay isang hindi tahasang paraan upang hayaan ni PNoy na ipagpatuloy ang mag harassment cases sa akin ni GMA.. na ngayon nga ay humantong na dito sa masakit na kalagayang ito.”

Lozada related that a who is close to President Aquino said to him: “I am sure that PNoy will never take the side of an Arroyo crony”.

Lozada replied: “I am sure that PNoy will not take the side of an Arroyo crony. What I am afraid of is that PNoy finds a common cause of their disdain for me or what I stood for”.