Lozada seeks approval of bills on whistle-blowers, FOI

MANILA, Philippines - Whistle blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. is calling for the approval of bills on the protection of whistle-blowers and freedom of information.

Lozada is set to leave today the care of religious leaders who protected him for over two years after his exposé on anomalies in the national broadband network (NBN) deal between previous government officials and a Chinese firm.

He said the bills, if passed into law, would give protection to people like him who mustered the courage to come out in the open and tell the truth against powerful individuals in the government.

“I hope the Whistle-Blower Act and the Freedom of Information Act will be passed into law,” he told reporters at the De La Salle Greenhills on Ortigas Avenue.

Lozada issued the call as he announced his decision to leave the confines of the De La Salle campus, which served as his home for two years and nine months.

He sought refuge with the religious leaders last Feb. 5, 2008 after exposing the anomalous NBN deal with ZTE Corp. Religious groups last night offered a mass for the Lozadas, officiated by Fr. Msgr. Gerry Santos, at the La Salle chapel.

The mass was for good governance, as well as a farewell and thanksgiving for Lozada and his family and was attended by about 100 people.

Lozada, a former government consultant and chief executive officer of the state-run Philippine Forest Corp., made headlines when he agreed to testify and confirm the allegations made by businessman Jose de Venecia III exposing the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal.

He implicated former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and former Commission on Elections chief Benjamin Abalos as the principal players in “the grossly overpriced contract with ZTE.”

He said his decision to leave the care of the religious came about after his children wrote him a letter requesting that they become a normal family again.

“I’m doing this (leaving the care of the religious leaders) for my children. The (Aquino) administration is not part of my decision process,” said Lozada.

“My children deserve to live normal lives. Syempre, typical teenager and as a father, I owe it to them.”

Lozada and his wife have five children aged 17 years to 9 years.

He admitted that he is still afraid for their safety but the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines would continue to ensure his safety and that of his family.