ZTE Controversy

The confession made by Jun Lozada before the Senate may save people from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals. Here's a statement from AKBAYAN exhorting former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri to speak out the truth on the questionable national broadband network deal under the Arroyo regime.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
AKBAYAN to Neri: Do a Lozada and tell all

Saying that it's never to late to tell the truth, AKBAYAN Party today urged former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri to do a Lozada and divulge the entire truth behind the onerous NBN deal.

"This is no longer about respecting privilege information between the President and her cabinet members. This is already about heeding one's conscience and standing up for truth," AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros said. "One does not need a Supreme Court ruling to have the courage to stand up for what is right. Lozada has shown what integrity and honor really mean, and we hope that Neri would follow suit."
She added that Lozada's bravery should inspire Neri to tell all. "The truth trumps executive privilege. By revealing the truth about the involvement of FG Mike Arroyo and the President herself in the NBN deal, Neri would be remembered as the man who bravely stood against a government of thieves," she added.

The group warned Neri against being too comfortable with the people he keeps. "Taking part in a deceitful act is tenuous. The Arroyo family must be aware by now that fraud begets fraud, and lying in the end becomes burdensome. It does not go away and one cannot run away from the troubles that each act of fraud spawns. But it is not yet late for Sec. Neri to put an end to this web of lies and lay down every detail that he knows about the NBN deal," Hontiveros said.

The group held a picket outside the Senate to call on the nation to stop corruption once and for all. Carrying images of Sec. Neri, then COMELEC Chair Ben Abalos, and PNP Chief Razon with elongated nose, AKBAYAN said that Neri would be part of the Pinocchio Hall of Shame if he continues to refuse to speak on the deal.

"To lie in order to protect another liar is the basest form of fraud. It is not only a question of morality, but an act of degradation and submission. His refusal to speak dehumanizes him," AKBAYAN said.

CBCP Statement re: Lozada Expose

In light of the Senate hearings on the irregularities of the NBN-ZTE project linking First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and other government officials in the anomalies, the CBCP President and Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo has issued a statement in support of Rodolfo Lozada. Today, February 11, the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) and Mission Partners are joining hands with other faith based groups for a day of prayer in support of Lozada.

The Truth will set our Country Free

By ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO Archbishop of Jaro, CBCP President February 10, 2008

IT was courageous but damaging for two officials of government, former Speaker Jose de Venecia and Mr. Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, to expose questionable government deals in millions of dollars including scandalous and immoral kickbacks. It was courageous to come out in the open to “publicly confess” the high level of graft and corruption that they knew all along and “somehow” have been involved in. But it was also damaging to their political career as well as to significant others who are in high governance. Damaging also because they opened themselves to further scrutiny and inquiry. Truth hurts. Truth liberates. But the truth must be served. The truth will set our country free (cf. John 8/32)
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. In our last CBCP Statement, the Bishops strongly lamented the absence of social conscience today. This is the root cause of our systemic graft and corruption.
We lament in this season of Lent not only that we are sinners but also that our country has too long been captive to the corruption of people in governance. “We have to confess that corruption is in truth our greatest shame as a people.” The call for a moral revolution has deep implication. The CRUSADE FOR TRUTH being initiated by the Religious like the AMRSP, Civil Groups and Clergy is encouraging, and must be supported by all truth-loving and freedom-loving citizens. Only the truth, not lies and deceits, will set our country free. This truth challenges us now to communal action.
We encourage the “Watch and Pray” activity that will be initiated by the Parish Pastoral Councils for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV). We can also call it PPC for Responsible Citizenship. The flame of “social consciousness and common good” must be kept alive. We suggest the prayer used by the Magnificat Movement, the MAGNIFICAT of Our Lady in Luke 1, 46-55 a prayer for social transformation.
As we said in our last CBCP Statement “let us pray together, reason together, decide together, act together” “towards a more vigorous work for good governance and a more active promotion of responsible citizenship in our society in the light of the Gospel and the Social Teachings of the Church.”

Profile: Noel Lozada, Jr?

Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada, Jr., 45, CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation, surfaced at the La Salle Greenhills campus early morning today and implicated former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the anomalous ZTE deal.Lozada is an electronics and communications engineer and former chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corporation who served as a technical consultant to former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri on the national broadband project.News reports last month referred to him as a 'secret witness' in the Senate inquiry on the ZTE deal exposed by Jose de Venecia III last year.Lozada left the country hours before a January 30 Senate hearing he was supposed to attend. This prompted the senators to issue a warrant of arrest against him. As soon as he returned to the country, the Senate was not able to get him as he was taken away by suspected presidential guards. In a petition seeking his release filed before the Supreme Court, his wife Violeta said he was taken into police custody against his will.A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, he has a 20-year experience in executive and management positions in the private sector.Lozada assumed the post of president and CEO of PhilForest, a corporate arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in 2004. He directed the government's program for the propagation and commercial cultivation of tuba-tuba or jatropha plant, a source of biodiesel.Lozada hails from Ligao City in Albay. He is a fan of the national hero, Jose Rizal. He loves to read books, and his favorite is "The End of History and the Last Man" by Francis Fukuyama.He is also a golfer, and plays in Wack-Wack at least once a week. Sources: GMANews.tv, Philippine Graphic, Newsbreak

Controversial Mike

Anomalies and controversies linked to First Gentleman 'Mike' Arroyo
Source: GMA News Research

Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada Jr.'s statement linking First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the ZTE deal is just one of several controversies that have hounded the President's husband.

Alleged P50-million payola for telecoms franchise bills

In July 2001, Veronica "Bing" Rodrigo, former correspondence secretary and friend of President Arroyo, alleged that the First Gentleman received a P50-million bribe for the President to recall her veto of the franchise bills of the Philippine Communication Clearinghouse and APC Wireless Interface Network. Rodrigo retracted her accusations a few days later.

Alleged use of PCSO funds as campaign funds

In October 2001, Robert Rivero, axed consultant of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, alleged that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo used PCSO funds in the campaign of certain senatorial candidates and to bribe the media. He claimed that FG Arroyo paid P20.5 million to Bombo Radyo and Radio Mindanao Network; the PCSO and lotto draw announcements did not air in these stations, although some commentators aired pro-administration commentaries. The PCSO publicity department denied Rivero's accusations.

Designation as OFW envoy

In December 2002, President Arroyo designated Mike Arroyo as an OFW envoy so he could represent her in the countries she could not visit. However, critics assailed Arroyo's announcement when they learned that his activities as OFW envoy could be funded by a proposed overseas workers legal assistance fund. They feared that the Arroyo couple would use the funds for her 2004 campaign.

While the President did not recall her husband's designation, the first gentleman voluntarily resigned.

Jose Pidal expose

Sen. Panfilo Lacson's Jose Pidal expose in 2003 further cast First Gentleman Arroyo in bad light. Lacson accused First Gentleman Arroyo of maintaining secret bank accounts to launder money from campaign contributions for the 1998 vice presidential bid of Gloria Arroyo.

First Gentleman Arroyo denied the allegations. His brother, Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo took up the cudgels for him and claimed to be "Jose Pidal" before clamming up and invoking his "right to privacy" during a Senate investigation.

Friend's involvement in importation of rotten rice

Indian trader Kishore Hemlani, allegedly a close friend of First Gentleman Arroyo, also figured that year in a contract involving the importation of 600,000 metric tons of rotten rice worth P9.5 million from India.

Stay in an expensive Las Vegas suite

In 2005, First Gentleman Arroyo drew criticism for staying in a $20,000-a-night MGM Grand Villa in Las Vegas, Nevada, during a Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales boxing match. Arroyo’s camp said the accommodation was complimentary and not paid for by public funds.

Alleged receipt of jueteng payola

In the same year, witnesses at the Senate hearings on jueteng claimed that First Gentleman Arroyo received protection money for the illegal numbers game. The First Gentleman denied the allegations and left the country momentarily to help "remove distractions and doubts from people’s minds" on President Arroyo's ability to run the government. The Palace, then embattled with both the jueteng and "Hello Garci" controversies, dismissed the accusations against the First Gentleman as mere concoctions by those who wanted to oust the President.

Friend's involvement in fertilizer fund scam

In 2006, the Senate wrapped up a series of hearings on the fertilizer fund scam and concluded that First Gentleman Arroyo's close friend and fellow Makati Rotarian Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc" Bolante diverted agricultural funds to the 2004 electoral campaign of President Arroyo.

Alleged existence of multi-million dollar German bank account

Later that year, then opposition Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that a member of the Arroyo family maintained a bank account in Germany amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. First Gentleman Arroyo flew to Germany and secured a certification from the bank to disprove Cayetano's claims. Upon his return, sought Cayetano's expulsion from Congress.

ZTE Controversy

Official Kidnapping

Rodolfo Lozada Jr., a potential witness in the Senate’s continuing investigation into the ZTE controversy, and the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Senate, was met by airport officials and police officers as soon as he got off the plane Tuesday -- and then vanished. As of the time of writing, Lozada remains virtually incommunicado, in a still unidentified location. He is, apparently, in police custody -- at least that is what Director General Avelino Razon of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday. But Razon has issued misleading statements before, even deliberately; his belated announcement that Lozada, the president of a government corporation with alleged insider knowledge about corruption in ZTE Corp.’s contract to build a national broadband network, was actually in police custody all this time raises legal and moral issues. They can be summed up in one question: Can the police, under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration, do whatever it wants? Consider the following facts that have come to light: Lozada left the airport in highly unusual circumstances; after he was met right at the airplane door, he did not pass through the immigration or customs counters. This allowed him (and those escorting him) to evade the Senate officials waiting at the airport to arrest him. Is it now the PNP’s responsibility, under Razon, to keep Senate witnesses away from the Senate and its agents? When Lozada left the airport terminal, he sent a text message to his brother, saying he had been abducted. Razon said Lozada was under the custody of the Police Security and Protection Office, the unit that handles VIP security. Is it now the PNP’s responsibility, under Razon, to detain VIPs against their will? Lozada’s sister said she saw him hours after he arrived, looking thin and haggard; well, she is reported to have said he’s still alive. She said she could not say, however, where Lozada was being held. Is it now the PNP’s responsibility, under Razon, to coerce visitors into an ominous silence? Razon waited an inordinate amount of time before declaring that the potential witness -- cited for contempt by the Senate when he unexpectedly left the country -- was in police custody. Is it now the PNP’s responsibility, under Razon, to detain people in secret? As of the time of writing, Lozada remains out of sight, and separated from his own immediate family. Razon said Lozada had not been kidnapped, because he or his family had in fact requested police protection. But Lozada’s worried wife filed a writ for habeas corpus with the Supreme Court yesterday, to compel the police to present Lozada. If the alleged letter of request is genuine, it is exceedingly curious that Lozada’s wife knew nothing about it. Is it now the PNP’s responsibility, under Razon, to lie, brazenly, to the public it is supposed to serve? The truth is Razon and certain trusted officers in the PNP are doing Malacañang’s dirty job -- and they know it. Lozada, a close friend of former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri, has inside information about the ZTE deal. He left the country because he was not ready to testify before the Senate; now that he has come back, the Arroyo administration wants him either to keep silent, or to sing a different tune. It is not as if this is the first time we’ve seen the Arroyo administration’s unique Witness Protection Program at work. As in the cases of whistleblowers Udong Mahusay and Vidal Doble Jr., the administration’s special operations department enabled potentially hostile witnesses to recant potentially damaging testimony. Razon’s blithe statement, that the police were ready to present Lozada if the Senate asked for him, is an outrage. Of course, the Senate wants him. That is what his arrest warrant is for: to compel him to testify. And that is exactly why the Senate sergeant-at-arms went to the PNP headquarters, to the very unit Razon identified as holding Lozada in custody. Is it any surprise that Lozada wasn’t there? This is how a police state is born: First they detain us, and then they make us disappear. http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20080206-117234/Official-kidnapping

Philippine politics

Many of us are sick and tired of traditional politics in this country. The urgent task now is to create a critical mass to advance a genuiene alternative to mainstream politics and challenge the worsts (Arroyos, Erap, JDV, Nograles) of old politics. We cannot afford to wait for another 10-20 years to witness and be part of a truly democratic political society. Here's an article written by UP Prof. Randy David reminding us that advocating for new politics and changing the current political set up is no easy task. But there is hope… ------------------------------------------------------------ Thoughts on new politics Akbayan, one of the first left-leaning groups to take up the challenge of electoral politics through the party-list mechanism, held a forum last week to mark the 10th year of its founding. I was one of the invited speakers. A restrained and reflective mood pervaded the occasion. On its very first electoral bid, the group won a seat in Congress, doubling this in 2001, and attaining the maximum of three seats in 2004. The elections of 2007 brought Akbayan face-to-face with the harsh realities of traditional politics. The votes it raised were enough to send only one nominee to the House of Representatives. This outcome has provoked a lot of soul-searching within the party. In particular it has raised the question of whether it is at all possible for a modern ideological party to win anything in a traditional political system without giving up most of its own self-imposed standards. At this gathering of comrades, many of whom had cut their teeth in politics as student activists and as mass movement militants, I thought it relevant to address the dilemmas of new politics in a transitional society. I want to share portions of what I said. The paradox of new politics is that, in theory, it is perhaps the only type of politics that can offer a nation any hope of survival in a complex world. And yet, at the same time, in transitional societies like ours, its practice seems to offer little promise or meaning unless it bows to the norms of traditional politics. Traditional politics aims to preserve the existing order of society -- its inherited hierarchies and inviolate norms. Its methods are well-known -- the fostering of dependence and patronage through the exploitation of customary values, like “utang na loob” [debt of gratitude], paternalistic rule that combines benevolence with calibrated intimidation, the obsession with consensus and disdain for free debate, the unaccountable disposition of public wealth, and the unchecked exercise of public power. In contrast, new politics aims to reform institutions and revise existing routines and procedures in accordance with the pressures for change already manifest in society, careful not to embark on comprehensive programs of transformation that cannot be sustained by existing objective conditions. Its thrust is more evolutionary than revolutionary, more to strengthen the foundations on which to build the new than to invent something completely new. Its immediate objective is to end mass poverty and political illiteracy as a condition for the progressive democratization and modernization of society. Its favored instruments are: the formation of self-sustaining electoral parties with clear ideologies and programs, mass mobilizations centering on clear-minded advocacies, and community organizing for popular empowerment. In transitional societies like ours, the problem has always been how to build something different on what exists, while avoiding assimilation by conservative forces. The temptation to make peace with the old order is very strong because of the advantages and resources offered by the latter. At the same time, the romantic promise of revolutionary politics lurks like a dream and refuses to go away. Here lies the paradox of new politics. New politics finds itself struggling to survive in a political system that has its own code of acceptable behavior, its own mode of legitimation, its own procedures for using power -- all of which are rooted in the structural principles of the society in which it is embedded. Traditional politics thrives in highly stratified societies where political roles are woven into networks of patron-client relations. The good news is that societies undergoing the wrenching transition to modernity are witnessing the erosion of the social base of these old hierarchies. The bad news is that this does not always lead to democratization. In many instances, it only paves the way for new forces sliding into the same patronage roles vacated by the old elite. For example, the exit of landed families from the political stage has not paved the way for the entry of professional politicians reared by modern political parties. It has only created space for moneyed individuals thrust into power by a gambling or drug economy, or popular celebrities projected by the mass media. The dilemmas I refer to here can be seen in the practical day-to-day problems faced by individuals who have taken upon themselves the role of new politicians and have actually won public positions. People like Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City and Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela province come to mind. The case of Fr. Eddie Panlilio, the Catholic priest who has won as governor of Pampanga province, is particularly worth studying. Much can be learned from the circumstances that brought them to power, and the realities they have had to deal with once they assumed power. We cannot change politics without basic organizing. To politically organize does not mean just being able to herd people for mass actions or electoral campaigns. It means, above all, providing them with the skills necessary for modern politics -- i.e., to be able to manage community meetings, to be able to speak intelligently about issues, make decisions, raise funds, and draw systematic plans and programs. In short, everything that has to do with the formation of accountable leaders suitable to a modern democracy. Max Weber’s words speak to us urgently: “Only the orderly guidance of the masses by responsible politicians can break the irregular rule of the street and the leadership of demagogues of the moment.”

ALTSEAN Burma Bulletin

Allow me to share with you the January 2008 issue of ALTSEAN Burma Bulletin. The Burma Bulletin is a short month in review of events in Burma, particularly those of interest to the democracy movement and human rights activists. In the January 2008 issue you will find: * Daw Suu slams SPDC * Persecution of NLD intensifies * Child mortality rate worse than Sudan * Bombs in Burma * SPDC in international spotlight * Food shortages * Other Burma news * List of Reports * Much more... Click here to view the Bulletin online http://www.altsean.org/Reports/Burma%20Bulletin/BBJanuary08.php