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Despite repeated appeals from various groups for it to come up with
a common stand, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) remains divided on the current political crisis
and on Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr.’s credibility.
In a radio interview Thursday, Caloocan Bishop
Deogracias Ińiguez said, “Many bishops still refuse to join other
groups asking for the President to step down, because they have a
different degree of understanding on the issues that were being
raised.”
Ińiguez, head of the bishop’s permanent
committee on public affairs, admitted that he is himself not yet
convinced by allegations made by Lozada but understands those who
accept his revelations at the Senate as gospel truth.
The bishop stressed that it will be a different
story once the allegations against the Arroyo government have been
substantiated and proved.
In this case, Ińiguez said, “That is an
opportune time to really stand up and speak out together with the
people,” and bishops who want to speak out on the issue may do so
in their respective dioceses.
Lozada is expected to testify today before the
fact-finding panel of the Department of Justice, where he is
expected to be grilled regarding a recording of his conversation
with fellow whistleblower Jose “Joey” de Venecia 3rd.
New recording
An apparently taped conversation between Lozada
and de Venecia has been uploaded on the popular website YouTube,
where they discussed the alleged $130-million kickback.
At the Senate, Lozada alleged that former
elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. had a $130-million
“commission” from the national broadband project. Abalos, who
was not identified in the recording, has denied the charge.
On the recording, it appears that Lozada and de
Venecia were wrangling for bigger takes of the $130 million.
Philforest scam
In a report posted at the GMANews website, a
Philippine Forest Corp. (PhilForest) official on Thursday accused
Lozada of condoning irregularities in the agency’s procurement
process and arbitrary distributing land to his relatives.
GMA 7 also ran a live interview aired
simultaneously over several government-run television stations where
PhilForest program development manager Erwin Santos said that under
Lozada’s leadership, procurements made by the agency did not go
through the normal bidding process.
The Santos interview was aired ahead of
scheduled protests against President Gloria Arroyo anchored on
Lozada’s allegations during Senate hearings on the controversial
$330-million national broadband deal.
The interview was aired over NBN-4 and
government-sequestered television stations RPN 9 and IBC 13.
Santos, who joined PhilForest in 2007, said he
is a friend and trusted aide of Lozada at PhilForest, and that both
of them should take responsibility for their wrongdoings concerning
the procurement of office supplies and service contracts entered
into by the agency.
Santos also said that aside from procurement
irregularities, Lozada also ordered the arbitrary distribution of
land to some of the agency’s beneficiaries under the “Lupang
Hinirang” program, who turned out to be Lozada’s relatives.
Santos said that to his knowledge, those who
have benefited from Lozada’s arbitrary land distribution number
“between 20 to 30.”
Year of peace
Commision on Higher Education Chairman Romulo
Neri called on all political leaders to declare a year of “social
peace so we can focus” on finding solutions to the country’s
problems.
He was director general of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA), which reviewed the national
broadband network project. Neri, whom Lozada called his friend,
testified at the Senate that Abalos has offered him a P200-million
bribe to approve the broadband project. Abalos also denied that
allegation and threatened to sue Neri.
The Senate has been trying to get Neri to
testify again and disclose about his conversation with President
Arroyo when he had reported to her the alleged bribe offer. Neri had
refused to give details, saying conversations with the President are
covered by executive privilege. The Senate disagrees, and the issue
is now at the Supreme Court.
In a statement Thursday, Neri said, “I urge
our political leaders to abandon this politics of hate and go for
the politics of hope and progress, where we practice human decency
and respect for the dignity of our fellowmen.”
Returning P500,000
In the Senate, Sen. Mar Roxas 2nd called on the
“private source” who gave the P500,000 to Deputy Executive
Secretary Manuel Gaite to claim his or her money from the Senate
showing proof of ownership and explaining circumstances surrounding
it.
Earlier, Lozada told the Senate that Gaite had
given him P500,000 after complaining that he had no money in Hong
Kong. Lozada had turned over the money to the Senate.
Gaite, who initially conceded to have given
Lozada the amount, later claimed the money came from a private
source.
“If the donor was only acting out of the
goodness of his heart, then he or she has nothing to fear,” Roxas
said.
The Senate will continue with its hearings, even
as the Department of Justice and Office of the Ombudsman have
started their own investigations.
-- William B. Depasupil, Angelo S. Samonte, Jomar Canlas and
Sammy Martin
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