Negros IBP backs Lozada, Senate probe

For a time, I thought the ZTE-NBN broadband hearing must have simply aroused the feelings of the Catholic faithful of the Bacolod Diocese. And that the “Mass for the Truth” must have fizzled out.

But apparently, one cannot stamp out the controversy spreading among the people. Yesterday, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter, issued a statement supporting the Senate investigation into the ZTE-NBN broadband deal.

Rodolfo Parreño, the INP head, also said the IBP local chapter is also opposing attempts to frustrate the people’s right to know the truth.

The group also supports the investigation proposed by some senators to include the Northrail and Southrail contracts entered into by the executive department and the Chinese government.

Surprisingly, I was with the group of officers of the Sacred Heart Seminary Lay Alumni Association Sunday. Although that was not part of the discussion, what came out was a collective opinion upholding Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the whistleblower and former head of the Philippine Forest Corp.

President Sotero Milos Jr. and vice president Jovie Madayag, were looking askance at the efforts by key government officials to throw the book at Lozada instead of seeking the full disclosure of the truth from him and others.

“They are packing,” was the observation by lawyer Bong Dilag, legal adviser of the lay alumni of the seminary.

For me this was a surprise. The collective opinion by “rebels” as they normally are called who had gone out of their studies for the priesthood.

But they all had the same perceptions. They all agreed that the ZTE-NBN broadband probe may actually be the harbinger of the downfall of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

PIO Raymond Valencia said lay Catholics should take up the cudgels for the search for the truth. “We just cannot take things lying down. Some top government officials seem more intent on destroying Lozada rather than searching for more details about the transaction. In short, they are throwing the kitchen sink at him in an apparent attempt to close down the Senate probe,” said Valencia.

The Bacolod Diocese, meanwhile is pursuing more activities to seek the truth behind the corruption issues besetting the country in support of witness Lozada.

Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, head of the Social Action Center, did not furnish details of the Church plans, but declared that it may conduct another form of protest. He did not exactly state what it was.

President Milos said they are encouraging more lay alumni to join the group. And that may include asking them to throw their support behind the call by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra to help in the search for truth.

Parreño, the IBP head, said the group disagrees with the suggestion of Cabinet secretaries and other executive officials of the administration that the Senate close down its probe into the ZTE-NBN broadband deal since the President had already cancelled the contract. Thus, in short, other than the political noises that it creates, it is virtually root and academic. In short, the investigation only creates division among the people.

On the contrary, the IBP-Negros said, the truth behind reports of bribery and corruption remain, unanswered and they are the sores that have been causing divisions among the people.

The Negrese lawyers also cited attempts to prevent Lozada from testifying in the Senate an “illegal attempt to derail the upper chamber from its responsibility to provide a check-and-balance over actions of the executive.”

Meanwhile, Deputy president spokesperson Anthony Golez reacted and pointed out that “we respect their position in support of Mr. Lozada and while the controversy is now being addressed by the proper fora, the legal process would not lead us to this whole truth in order to put closure to this and maintain political and economic stability.”

Fr. Dan Senal, parish priest of the Our Lady of the Candles Church, rallied the faithful yesterday to listen to the voice of Christ and to take steps that could help assure that the truth will out.”

Labor arbiter killed

A labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission was gunned to death Sunday while on his way out to the Talisay City cockpit in Barangay Zone 14.

NLRC arbiter Phibun Pura, 60, of Carmela Valley Homes, Talisay City, died on the spot after he was shot again on the left eye by his alleged assailant, Edgar Nicor, alias Ka Joshua, an alleged commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade.

Pura’s brother-in-law, Keeneth Tirthdas also killed Nicor when he tried to rescue Pura.

Nicor was already running toward his two companions on a motorcycle when Tirthdas shot at the fleeing Nicor, fatally hitting twice on the back and left leg.

Nicor was pronounced dead on arrival at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni provincial hospital in Silay City.

Police Superintendent Joseph Thomas Martir said the two companions of Nicor fled the shooting scene. Motive for the gunslaying remains nebulous. Neither was Tirthdas found as of press time, but police said he had expressed willingness to cooperate in the investigation of the incident.

Pura was arrested in 2004 in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation after he had receive P25,000 in alleged bribe money. The case against him was filed with the Sandiganbayan 2nd division. Pura however, was granted a P20,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Next year, the Democratic Alliance of Labor Organizations filed a petition before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission seeking the transfer of Pura and Executive Labor arbiter Danilo Acosta for what they claimed were slow disposition of labor cases.

The incident is expected to throw a scare among Talisay residents since Nicor is reportedly an import personality in the ranks of the secessionist rebels.