KillerQueen
05-03-2009, 10:43 AM
More than a year ago, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada became a household name in Philippine society with his revelations about a $329 million deal for the establishment of a telecommunications network system, intended to link all units of government. Originally a build-operate_transfer project, the entrance of then Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos into the picture changed things to one funded by a concessional loan from the People’s Republic of China, with a Chinese firm, ZTE, as the supplier.
Just to refresh our short memories:
Jun Lozada in his press conference at La Salle Greenhills revealed that the initial project cost was only $262 million but there was an overprice of almost 100 percent because of a $130 million commission allegedly being demanded by Abalos. In an attempt to stop him from testifying before the Senate, Lozada was met upon arrival from Hong Kong VIP style, no immigration, no customs formalities. Then he was taken on a Grand Tour of the South Superhighway and adjacent areas, complete with heavy police escort before being brought back to La Salle Green Hills. Whatever was the real reason for the unusual treatment, the message was clear – don’t mess around with this administration.
Jun Lozada, who describes himself as just a “probinsyanong intsik”, must represent a serious danger to the Arroyo government. Less than 24 hours after his press conference, the big guns of the administration had all the ammunition to fire against Lozada – proof not so much of the sins he may have committed as Philippine Forest president, but of the ruthless power that can be generated to demolish those who dare displease the administration.
Jun Lozada saved the the Filipino taxpayer 329 million dollars or some 16 billion pesos, half of which would have gone to the pockets of the “commissioners” connected with the Arroyo government. Since the amount involved was going to be a loan from the Chinese government, we our children and grandchildren would have had to pay off the loan through the years, just as we had to pay off the loan that was used to put up the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that went nowhere.
How come Jun Lozada is going to be arrested while nothing is being done about the “commissioners” and other government officials who attempted to hoodwink us into shouldering such heavy burden just to enrich themselves?
How come nothing is being done about Joc-joc Bolante, who is the alleged mastermind of the 728 million pesos fertilizer scam? It has been some time now since he returned from the United States and all I quiet in the Office ot the Ombudsman and the Arroyo government that, in the first place, appointed him agriculture undersecretary, when the scam was carried out?
How come no one has been charged in the 1.3 billion peso election computerization deal which was denounced by the Supreme Court?
It is a glaring truth that we have a distorted justice system in this country – one for the Arroyo boys, another for the guys like Jun Lozada and the Magdalo soldiers who were double-crossed by the government.
Just to refresh our short memories:
Jun Lozada in his press conference at La Salle Greenhills revealed that the initial project cost was only $262 million but there was an overprice of almost 100 percent because of a $130 million commission allegedly being demanded by Abalos. In an attempt to stop him from testifying before the Senate, Lozada was met upon arrival from Hong Kong VIP style, no immigration, no customs formalities. Then he was taken on a Grand Tour of the South Superhighway and adjacent areas, complete with heavy police escort before being brought back to La Salle Green Hills. Whatever was the real reason for the unusual treatment, the message was clear – don’t mess around with this administration.
Jun Lozada, who describes himself as just a “probinsyanong intsik”, must represent a serious danger to the Arroyo government. Less than 24 hours after his press conference, the big guns of the administration had all the ammunition to fire against Lozada – proof not so much of the sins he may have committed as Philippine Forest president, but of the ruthless power that can be generated to demolish those who dare displease the administration.
Jun Lozada saved the the Filipino taxpayer 329 million dollars or some 16 billion pesos, half of which would have gone to the pockets of the “commissioners” connected with the Arroyo government. Since the amount involved was going to be a loan from the Chinese government, we our children and grandchildren would have had to pay off the loan through the years, just as we had to pay off the loan that was used to put up the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that went nowhere.
How come Jun Lozada is going to be arrested while nothing is being done about the “commissioners” and other government officials who attempted to hoodwink us into shouldering such heavy burden just to enrich themselves?
How come nothing is being done about Joc-joc Bolante, who is the alleged mastermind of the 728 million pesos fertilizer scam? It has been some time now since he returned from the United States and all I quiet in the Office ot the Ombudsman and the Arroyo government that, in the first place, appointed him agriculture undersecretary, when the scam was carried out?
How come no one has been charged in the 1.3 billion peso election computerization deal which was denounced by the Supreme Court?
It is a glaring truth that we have a distorted justice system in this country – one for the Arroyo boys, another for the guys like Jun Lozada and the Magdalo soldiers who were double-crossed by the government.