The Four-eyed Journal » Jun Lozada

Jun Lozada @ DLSU-Dasmariñas

jhay — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:47:30 +0000

Last July 23, a day before my birthday, something awesome happened at school. Finally, after all the hard wait, and frustrated attempts by the police in preventing this event from happening months ago, Jun Lozada, star witness for the ZTE-NBN corruption scandal visited De La Salle University – Dasmariñas as a guest speaker on a forum entitled: “The Role of Communication on Social Transformation”

Many critics, both inside and outside campus and especially those who are against Jun Lozada, question why he was invited as a speaker when the forum’s topic was about communication and when the issue about the ZTE-NBN scandal has been all but forgotten. A very good point, however only at first glance.

I believe that the Community Development Program Council, the organizers of the forum, thought that this would Jun Lozada would be perfect to speak on the forum since it concerns communication and social transformation.

Jun Lozada is an Electronics and Communication engineer, and he has contributed immensely to the movement of social transformation. Instead of inviting a communications expert – academically, the organizers thought it would be better if we were to hear from someone who has used communication for better and more noble means than making a good living just for one’s own sake. It is taking something abstract into something more concrete, practical and profoundly imbued with values we youth today should learn.

I could go on and on but Jun Lozada himself could best explain this as he did so during the forum. Here is his entire presentation broken down into four, 10-minute blocks of videos:

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

We Lasallians from DLSU-D are thankful for Jun Lozada for the visit and sharing with us insights and values we so badly need today, if we are to be effective agents of social transformation. Congratulations to the Community Development Program Council for such a successful forum. Asteeg!

Jun Lozada – Krus ng Katotohanan

jhay — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:21:54 +0000

It’s been a long while since my last update here in The Four-eyed Journal. The last few weeks of the school year has just been too much that it has taken up a great deal of my time. Nonetheless, since this post comes during the Lenten season and it is a time for reflection not just about our faith but also among a lot of many other things, I’d like to share a video that I hope would be a good source or inspiration for all of us to reflect on.

It is a video of Mr Jun Lozada sharing his reflections on why he has come out to tell the truth despite the dangers, perils, criticisms and obstacles hurled against him from the time he has worked in the government up to now that he has stood up for the truth. It was taken in a forum in La Salle Greenhills last March 4, 2008, in which we Lasallians from Dasmariñas, Cavite finally made it out of our province to join our fellow Lasallians and Mr Jun Lozada himself for a gathering for truth, honesty, justice and accountability.

In this sharing that lasted for almost 30 minutes, Jun Lozada brought up the following points that would be good bases for our Lenten reflection:

Apathy and indifference has pervaded our society. Even the Catholic Church has become indifferent to the truth, or the lack thereof, and the corruption in government.
Corruption in government is a form of business. And if you would “rock the boat”, no body would do business with you again.
Most are afraid to carry the torch of light because the very first thing to be illuminated is one’s own self thereby exposing one’s sins and dirty image.
Conscience is the driving force for someone to brave the odds and do what is right and doing something for the truth.
Carry the light of truth and those who thrive in darkness, corrupting others, will reject and even destroy you.
If you will fill your heart with the light of goodness, then there will be no place for a shadow in you.
Act with compassion, not with hatred, because compassion for those who suffer, who are oppressed, who are victims of injustice and corruption will be the reason for our collective constant struggle for change and a better tomorrow. The removal of an evil empire is simply a consequence of this compassion-driven movement.

I hope many will find a gem or two in this video and in these points of reflection. If you happen to find some more, do share them for everyone’s benefit.

Everyone wake up! Time to face the truth

jhay — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:10:02 +0000

Today, Friday, March 7, 2008 marks the 1st week anniversary (naks!) of the suppression and blatant violation of the Constitutional Rights to the freedoms of abode, information, speech and peaceable assembly of the 85 students, faculty and some administrators of De La Salle University – Dasmariñas at the hands of the Bacoor PNP. And don’t forget the harassment and putting our lives and safety at risk thanks to their UDJ-297 White Tamaraw FX. Which I may add, was parked at the Bacoor Police Sub-Station at Talaba, Bacoor, Cavite last Tuesday morning and was seen going around Zapote later that afternoon.

We struggle even in our own campus

Our tragic experience last February 29, 2008 has been made known to the whole country thanks to our own small efforts which have been magnified by the media. The next logical step to do is file formal charges against the Bacoor PNP. That’s what almost everyone is expecting. The question is, will the 85 Lasallians from Dasmariñas, Cavite do so? A majority of us 85 are willing to do just that, however, by the nature of how our University works internally plus the socio-political climate in campus, we are forced to take things in much more reflective and slow manner.

The reasons for such are valid and true. However to my beloved DLSU-D administrators, undecided faculty and “snakes in the grass” let me re-echo one classic maxim about law and justice: “Justice delayed, is justice denied.”

To add further appeal, let me share that prayer that has been the battle-cry of Lasallians who have come out in support of Jun Lozada and the crusade for truth and justice:

Let me be the change I want to see
to do with strength and wisdom all that needs to be done
and become the hope I can be

Set me free from my tears and hesitations
Grant me courage and humility
Fill me with Spirit to face the challenge
and start the change I long to see

Even if I am not the light
I can be the spark
In faith, service and communion
let us start the change we want to see
The change that begins in me

Live, Jesus, in our hearts FOREVER!

It saddens and frustrates me to know and experience first-hand that the very teachers, professors, and administrators all educators in one way or another who have been lecturing us to do the right thing, to fight for our rights, to stand for what is truth and just, to grow up into the righteous leaders of this nation, to become true Lasallians enliving the Lasallian mission and the three core values of faith, zeal and communion in mission to be the first ones to silence us, coil up and let the February 29 tragedy pass on by as if it had never happened.

However, I believe there is still hope. And we, the 85 victims: your fellow students, faculty and administrators will show you that there is hope.

Continuing the struggle outside campus

If the criticisms from inside our very own campus is not enough, which is normal in an academic setting, we have also been engaged by individuals and groups from the public who have sent us emails, sms and made comments in our blogs that range from fair criticisms, defense of GMA to downright behavior that is no different, even worse than what the Bacoor PNP has done to us.

I say to each and everyone of you; much thanks for the added insight and the healthy conversation. I respect your positions and opinions however, it’s time to wake up, re-think your stances and face the truths:

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “evil” and corrupt. From the “Hello, Garci” scandals, to the extra-judicial killings of activists and journalists, the overpriced government projects and the envelopes to Congressmen and the bishops, up to the NBN-ZTE controversy today. Add to that the treatment of her allies and loyalists, in particular the local government of Bacoor which was given to us last February 29, 2008 at Daang Hari and then at Niog, Bacoor.

You defend her by saying that Jun Lozada is a hypocrite and was once part of the system. True, Jun Lozada said so himself. We believe him, and we also believe that more must be exposed and confessed about the NBN-ZTE controversy by the other officials and individuals who were involved in the issue.

“Let he who has no sin, cast the first stone.”

Again, we’re not talking about Jun Lozada here, we’re talking about the “bukol” (lumps) in government projects and contracts. We’re talking about the exchange of “200″ between government officials in a fancy golf course. We’re talking about the Chief Executive Officer of this Republic, who has ~~sworn to lie, cheat, steal and kill~~, defend the Constitution and uphold the laws of this land who has knowledge and direct participation in of all of these irregularities but has done absolutely nothing to remedy all of it, as prescribed in our laws.

“It’s not the economy, stupid!”

You defend her by saying that she has done well for the economy of the country. I say again, wake up!

You harp and banner the 7.3 percent growth in our GDP, the fastest in 31 years so they say, but have you really taken a second look at it? Or have you swallowed more of this administration’s propaganda designed to deceive and fool us all about GMA’s “enchanted kingdom”?

Even a government agency, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB) has reported that poverty in the country worsened in 2006 which only proves that the claim of Malacañang of an improving economy is false.

According to the NSCB, 32.9% of the population, or 27.6 million Filipinos, are poor, nearly three percentage points higher than the 30% reported in 2003. This was computed using an annual poverty threshold of P15,057.

So again, borrowing the government’s own tag line; “ramdam mo na ba ang pag-asenso?” Let’s hear the 27.6 million poor Filipinos answer that. If Arbet’s mother has been complaining about increased prices of some goods, I’ve been lamenting the constant shrinkage of the pandesal and it’s increased price from 1 peso to 2 pesos, all during the term of Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo!

Lastly, Peter Wallace wraps up all of this eloquently:

We have an economy today that is skewed to favor a few. The growth is not widespread and is not reaching the bulk of the people. It is an economy that is losing its middle class (it shrank in 2007). One could say that it takes time to reduce the huge inequality that exists, or that the momentum toward that is there. But after six and a half years, surely there should have been some improvement, not a worsening.

I told ya, it’s time to face the facts.

From Jun Lozada: What is Neri afraid to say and why?

jhay — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:27:40 +0000

This Monday certainly proved to be a surprising one. Everything is happening so fast, there’s the plebiscite for the new USC Consitutitution of DLSU-D starting today until Friday, there’s the start of the Finals term for all of us college students (exams, exams, and more exams! Oh and projects and term papers too), and now this article by star witness of the Senate in its hearings on tainted NBN deal, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada in which he literally spills the beans on former NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning Romulo Neri’s sudden invocation of “Executive Priviliege” when he last testified at the Senate on the hearings about the same.

It was originally published on-line in Pinoy Press, by Black & White Movement co-convenor Enteng Romano. Many bloggers have already re-published this article but I feel that I must also do the same so that the public would have more sources for this ‘must-read’ article in which, we hope that would finally convince them to do something about current developments in our socio-political life and for the renewal of our changing times.

Here is Jun Lozada’s article in verbatim as taken from MLQ3:

What is Neri afraid to say and Why?

Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging “Sec. May 200 ka dito” demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people’s mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked “Executive Priviledge” during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?

We have known the Truth all along as one of the few people that Neri confided his predicament during those fateful days of April 2006, and how he wanted to resign his post of NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning over this incident where he lost all his moral respect for Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

We are doing this document to give the public an understanding of this predicament.

What is Neri afraid to tell the public? He is afraid to tell the public that after he reported the Abalos P200 million peso bribe offer, Arroyo casually told him to ignore it and work for its recommendation for approval anyway. That when he protested that it is too controversial and may attract the wrong kind of attention from media, Arroyo retorted back “Pakulo lang ni Joey yan and his father”. When he tried to reason that it may not be accommodated in the Chinese ODA package because it has been filled up with a list of projects already, Arroyo again ordered him to remove the low cost housing project and some water project to accommodate the ZTE-NBN deal in the ODA loan. That when he attempted to reason that it may not be approved in time for the Boao Forum which was only two days to go from that fateful April day, Arroyo with raised voice told him to include the ZTE-NBN project in the agenda of the following day’s meeting of a combined NEDA Board and Cabinet Committee, who as expected promptly approved the project paving the way for the contract signing between ZTE and DOTC in China the next day. Neri is afraid to tell the public that this conversation took place between him and Arroyo because it might spark another impeachment complaint against Arroyo.

Why is Neri afraid to tell the public about this conversation with Arroyo? He is afraid that another impeachment will simply result to more expenses of public funds similar to the Hyatt 10 impeachment crisis, because as DBM Secretary who replaced Boncodin, he was entrusted with the large scale DBM payola operation of Arroyo to Congressmen, Senators and Governors not quite similar to the crude Panlilio incident that the public is witnessing now. He is afraid with a more partisan Andaya at the helm of DBM, more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of these greedy legislators and local executives. He is afraid that with Arroyo’s firm control of public funds she can buy all the necessary support from most sectors of society to keep her in power.

He is afraid that even if the opposition knows about this conversation with Arroyo, he is afraid that the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceedings against Arroyo, because it is not to their political interest that Noli de Castro becomes President in case Arroyo is impeached and becomes a more formidable political opponent in 2010. This insincere and unpatriotic goal of the opposition is already being manifested by the malicious speed that the Erap pardon is being cooked by Ronnie Puno together with the Erap camp to hastily put a united front of “Birds of the same corrupt feather” coalition against the emerging JDV led political opposition.

He is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo’s direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo’s trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the “Hello Garci” crisis. That Arroyo’s Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their “donation” graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops’ of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.

He is afraid that even if the military knows the truth about Arroyo’s direct involvement in the fraudulent ZTE-NBN deal, the AFP brass is much to indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position, that they have demonstrated this twisted loyalty with their willingness to detain, remove from the service and even shoot their own men for voicing out their legitimate concerns regarding the corruption and moral authority of their Commander in Chief. It is a sad spectacle to see the respected warriors of the Marines & Special Forces rot in jail with their ideals, while their men are dying even without receiving the measly P150 per day combat pay that was promised to them by Arroyo due to lack of funds & generals gets a gift bag similar to those given to the governors and congressmen just for having dinner with Arroyo the day after that infamous breakfast & lunch meeting where bribe money flowed scandalously free.

He is afraid that even if the Media knows the truth about Arroyo’s direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN scam, Media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors similar to how the Hyatt 10, Hello Garci crisis were killed in the media headlines and Radio& TV coverages. Although he believes in the integrity of a handful of Journalist, he believes that a handful of these mavericks cannot withstand the hordes of paid lackeys of Malacanang. Especially that the Arroyo crisis team is now being handled by the best mercenary money can buy, from Ramos Sulo Operation, Erap’s DILG and now Arroyo’s troubleshooter, Ronnie Puno. Ably supported by the Media and PR money from PAGCOR being handled by Cerge Remonte to buy positive airtime, headlines and editorials.

He is afraid that even if the Business Sector knows about the truth of Arroyo’s direct involvement to defraud the coffers of the taxes they are paying, the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the boat of the current economic uptrend, especially with the very close personal and business relationship of the so called leaders of the big business like Ricky Razon of ICTSI, Donald Dee of PCCI and Francis Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Federation to Arroyo herself. He is afraid that the hard earned remittances of Filipino OFWs that is keeping the economy booming and that can keep the economy afloat even under any administration is being wasted under this unholy alliance of Arroyo and her favoured businessmen.

He is afraid that even if the Civil Society knows the truth about Arroyo’s direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, that the Civil Society is now tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions, that Civil Society is now afflicted with a “Rally Fatigue” and cannot muster enough public outrage to denounce Arroyo’s “corruption with impunity”. He is afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them, not realising that the middle class are the ones mainly carrying the burden of the loan payments for these corrupt deals. He is afraid that the middle class are more interested to become an OFW & to leave this country leaving their family and children behind, and may not care anymore about the crimes being committed against their country by its own President.

He is afraid that even if the Masa, the students, the workers knows the truth about Arroyo’s direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal to steal precious resources from public funds, that they are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, that these former vanguards of mass actions in the country are now completely dependent on financial resources of professional organizers and have turned themselves into a “Rally for hire” groups rather than a true and genuine political gathering shouting for reforms.

He is afraid that the public may not know the extent of corruption in this country and may wrongly believe that they can cure corruption by simply replacing Arroyo with another person. He is afraid that the public may overlook the systemic and institutionalized nature of the source of corruption in this country, he is afraid that the people will again opt for a regime change without concern or a plan to correct the root causes of corruption in the country. He is afraid that people may not realize that it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that is the difficult task.

This is the predicament of Neri which I want people to realize especially to those who are asking Neri to tell the truth.

———————

It’s a confirmation and summary of what has been said and done and the why’s behind all of it. Many would not believe Lozada because ‘he is no saint’, but then again, wasn’t it that those who became saints were first ridiculed and rejected by society before they became one?

My point here is let’s focus on what is being said, not so more on the person who is saying it. I’ll expound more upon this in the coming days as these recenty developments have reached a level that we must be now more vigilant and watchful of how all these would progress. So that when the time comes, our action to save our nation would not be all but too late.