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DRILON |
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Former
Senate president Franklin Drilon said that Rodolfo Lozada,
former president of Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC)
who stands witness in the controversial ZTE-RP National
Broadband Network (NBN) deal hearing at the Senate "is
credible" in his testimony.
Drilon,
president of Liberal Party, joined the call for President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down at the height of
equally scandalous "Hello Garci tapes" that
implicated GMA of alleged rigging the 2004 presidential
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polls
apparently to ensure her victory against the late Philippine
action movie king Fernando Poe, Jr.
Speaking
as guest of Holy Name University 60th year celebration, Drilon
lamented that the government tried to block someone who would
like to tell the Senate of the truth surrounding the NBN deal
controversy.
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As
former justice secretary, Drilon said Lozada is credible
and he is consistent with all his statements at the
Senate during the 10-hour grilling last week.
The
Senate has been investigating the controversy over the
NBN deal that figured out former Comelec chairman Benjamin
Abalos as having tried to bribe Sec. Romulo Neri.
Sensing
that it might back fire at her administration, GMA cancelled
the deal after Joey de Venecia, son of ousted House
Speaker Jose de Venecia, exposed the scam involving
the First Gentleman and former NEDA secretary Neri,
now chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.
Joey de Venecia alleged he was told by the first gentleman
to "back off" from participating in the ZTE
deal.
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Drilon
said that his law firm will definitely extend legal assistance
to Lozada, who is now facing an avalanche of lawsuits as consequences
of his testimonies apparently against those involved in the
deal.
He
stressed to the students the important aspect of governance
which is integrity that would hopefully result in the elimination
of corruption in government projects.
"What
is needed in our country today is an educated and skilled
populace with moral backbone. Indeed a good education empowers
our people. But a good moral foundation will spell the difference
between the attainment of development and having a progressive
nation with a soul."
For
his part, Congressman Lorenzo Erin Tañada III, grandson
of former senator Lorenzo Tañada, also urged the students
in his short speech during the same occasion to stand out
and be counted in the fight against corruption in the government.
The younger Tanada who accompanied Drilon said that it's about
time to make a stand on issues affecting the Filipinos, he
added. (RVO)
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