Lozada admits sins

MANILA, Philippines – Senate key witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. said yesterday that administration officials are using personal issues to stop him from testifying on the botched $329-million national broadband network deal.

Lozada admitted having sinned against his family, but stressed he had been forgiven by his wife, Violeta, a long time ago.

He told The STAR that he had long been ready for this revelation and would just consider it as part of his sacrifice in coming out with the truth on the alleged anomaly in the NBN deal.

My daughter “never stops crying since the issue came out in the media. But what can I do? I cannot be selective on the truths I have to say about the anomalies in government as well as the truths about my own life,” Lozada said.

The text messages about his other woman and children were sent en masse to malign him, he added.

“I am sacrificing a lot. So much had been asked of me since I was called to expose the NBN anomaly. I hope people will forgive me. And I hope they will realize that this has nothing to do with my exposes,” Lozada said.

“They are doing this to make people think that I have no more right to reveal the way they steal in government because I am a sinner myself,” he added.

Lozada expressed confidence that the public would be discerning and must listen to what he was saying.

He said there were too many negative things coming out, but he maintained he had “turned away from evil.”

“I have crossed to the other side, to the light,” he said.

“Many people, including some of my friends, did not understand why I had to come out and put myself through all these troubles. I could have stuck it out with government, enjoy the money offered to me and be comfortable. But I chose the other way and I would say my decision would just be between me and my God,” Lozada said.

The text brigade against Lozada was reportedly perpetrated by pro-administration groups. But some of those receiving the text messages were beginning to get annoyed.

Bishop Roderick Pabillo said: “What’s important here is what he’s revealed so far. Let’s not look at the person himself but what he’s been saying, if it’s right or wrong.”