Lozada visit draws divided reactions

The forum with the controversial NBN-ZTE whistleblower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada at the University of San Carlos gymnasium yesterday morning did not turn out a crowd draw as what others had anticipated.

The Lozada visit, organized by the Socio-Anthropology Department of the USC, was attended by only a few Carolinians, as confirmed by the university’s Student Council president, and that even USC president Fr. Roderick Salazar, SVD, was absent.

Many benches were still empty and most of those who attended were Lozada sympathizers and members of cause-oriented groups, carrying banners of Bayan and APL among others, that staged a protest march first before getting into the gym.

The crowd, despite its small size, impressed Lozada though, and he said that he was happy because of the warm welcome he got from the Cebuanos, contrary to earlier reports that he will not be accepted here.

The open forum however was divided in content, for and against Lozada. There were even copies of a letter, circulated among the students in the gym containing statements that questioned Lozada’s credibility in telling the truth behind the controversial ZTE deal.

“Kung sino man ang sumulat ng poison letter na yan, I ask them to come in front also at mag usap tayo dito,” Lozada said when he got a copy and read its contents.

The atmosphere got somehow tensed when a man, who identified himself only as Poo, stood up to say about his apparent dislike of the Lozada event and the Senate inquiry that had rocked Malacañang.

“Why have they not bought the case to the proper court when the Senate can’t acquit anyone?” Poo told Lozada loudly, prompting the Lozada supporters to react.

Members of the organizing body tried to take Poo out of the gym to prevent a heated confrontation. “I just asked. It’s an open forum but why can’t we ask questions? It’s our freedom, right? Why would somebody threaten me? They even punched me,” Poo told reporters.

Sanlakas Cebu Youth chairman Aaron Pedrosa said that Poo should have respected the forum for Jun Lozada and not ruin it.

Commenting on the incident, Mike Lopez, commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission and an active alumnus of USC, said people can always search for the truth “without necessarily abusing the truth.”

Lopez said that while Lozada might be telling the truth, due process is still very important.

He warned the youth of the danger in looping up to someone “that they do not even know very well,” as the person may not be able to uphold their expectations and “might crush their idealism.”  — Jasmin R. Uy, Joeberth M. Ocao, and Phoebe Jen Indino/RAE