The revelations of Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. in an early morning press conference and in the subsequent Senate hearing exposed and illustrated the depths to which the GMA administration has gone in order to pursue its agenda of greed and power. As their machinations clearly reveal, the GMA administration has lost its sense of shame and limits.
The NBN-ZTE issue almost encapsulates what is wrong with many of our present political leaders, processes and institutions. Lozada’s testimony, for instance, spoke clearly of the greed of former COMELEC Chair Benjamin Abalos and of the underhanded machinations of “FG”. His testimony also illustrated how often the genuine interests of the people are invariably relegated to the bottom of the hierarchy of concerns of public officials involved in government processes. As the narration clearly revealed, premium was given primarily to the concerns of the Chinese project partners, not to mention the commissions of the local brokers. The fact that the people would inevitably incur a greater debt burden seemed a trivial matter to the majority of players and brokers. Equally important, Lozada’s narration of his airport ordeal jarringly demonstrated how the present administration of GMA has come to recognize no limits, constitutional or otherwise, in its pursuit of political survival. Lozada, already a victim in the past of police harassment, once again came face to face with the sinister side of the state. His narration of his personal ordeal clearly demonstrated the fact that the GMA’s cabal will be pulling no punches to ensure that the truths inimical to its survival are never revealed. Although he has now come away relatively unscathed, the chilling effect of such terror tactics on other holders of potentially explosive truths against the GMA administration is undoubtedly incalculable.
As Lozada clearly states, the problem is indeed systemic. The wheels of government, at many levels and on many occasions, have undoubtedly been motivated by quests for personal economic gain. Lozada however, never spoke in the form of vague generalities. He spoke of a very particular problem. He illustrated how the GMA administration, along with particular allies and brokers, have transformed and reduced several elements of governance into financial transactions.
At present, there is no larger hurdle to truth, to real progress, to true political reform, than the GMA administration itself. As long as GMA and her cabal of relatives and allies are in power, the people can expect nothing more than stop-gap measures and gag orders.
SUPPORT LOZADA AND OTHERS WHO NOW MAY WANT TO SPEAK OUT! PROSECUTE AND PUNISH ALL GRAFTERS AND CORRUPT OFFICIALS!
GMA RESIGN!
IPAGLABAN ANG KATOTOHANAN AT KATARUNGAN!
The revelations of Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. in an early morning press conference and in the subsequent Senate hearing exposed and illustrated the depths to which the GMA administration has gone in order to pursue its agenda of greed and power. As their machinations clearly reveal, the GMA administration has lost its sense of shame and limits.
