The so-called “crying boy” or “probinsiyanong Intsik” or better known as Jun Lozada, the Senate’s current star witness for the foiled ZTE-NBN deal is a contradiction of sorts. He is a mystery to me, not that I want to unravel everything and understand everything about him. He is a good storyteller, a story weaver. Storyteller because he seems unwavering in his statements, in his sequencing of events. He is careful too since he is avoid not to mention names directly, though he insinuates and leaves nothing to the imagination.
When he was first asked to testify in the Senate, there were a lot of side comments that were not really answers to the questions given to him but were nonetheless interesting. Either he is a good actor judging by the way he tears up during crucial statements and questions, or he is repentant to the wrongdoings he has admitted doing while still in office, and either he is really telling the truth, these things he said as side comments made me listened to him. He may not be as honest as he seems to be because of some of the things he has done for his benefit are brought up. Questioning his reasons for coming out clean with what he knows, though a lot is hearsay, is what everyone is playing upon, just to curtail the issue at hand.
There were some things that Jun Lozada said that touched my heart, especially about the Aetas who didn’t want to sell the guavas because these were for the birds. We were having lunch when I heard that and I just had to excuse myself because my eyes began to sting with tears.
He also said this memorable paragraph when replying to some “small-time” graft practices by a senator who herself is far, very far from perfect and whose statements and stand on issues can be taken out of context depending upon the price agreed upon:
I would admit to that. I would admit in public and to the nation that there are certain things that I did in my life that upon reflection I would lose some respect to myself but all the remaining respect I have in myself, madam, I don’t want to lose. I’d like whatever respect I have in myself to keep it. If I go along with this NBN, I guess I’m going to lose it all. I’m afraid I’m going to lose my soul. Yes, I have to admit to that. Mea culpa
I don’t want to really dwell on the figures he has been talking about as part of the package of since I wouldn’t be able to imagine the enormity of it. I can’t even begin to imagine how much money that would be. They could have two or three lifetimes but they wouldn’t be able to spend all those money. The thing is, they couldn’t even buy Heaven where they can go to to avoid being burned in hell.
Please click here to read the Transcript of Statement made last February 7, 2008 at 2am that made All the President’s Men, Cabinet Secretaries, Key Political figures and Family Members scrambling to put back the broken pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that ought to not have been broken. They are after all, key figures too in a deal gone bad.
MODERATE the GREED.
How can one do this? Greed is like an addiction to some, it is like a rolling snow ball, gathering everything with it as it rolls down the path. Lozada himself admitted and spoke of his having a “permissible zone” and “forbidden zone” when it comes to kickbacks. So what is the norm exactly? 22% commissions for every government transaction. This admission in itself, shows that Mr. Lozada can also be bribed, up to his certain level of comfort or permissible zone.
ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN
I may never be able to get the correct terms when it comes to remembering the names, political terms, Latin-sounding hullabaloo. What caught my attention between wanting to stay at home to listen (yes, listen not watch because we are a cheapskate cable-less home) to the radio to the Senate probe and going to work is the fact that the President’s men were in full attendance. Almost.every.single.one of them, except of course the FG or foremost garapal AKA First Gentleman who is obviously behind the machinations of these events, the puppeteer who strings these people together for his own seemingly invisible and undetectable grand scheme of ruling the world.
Mr. Lozada have talked to so many people about his dilemma and thereby this made him all the more vulnerable to threats. He has gone to so many people, well-connected ones, and told his stories over and over again to these people who know each other and who move in the same political circle, breathing the same filthy air smelling of millions of dollars worth of kickbacks. Of course, it was expected that they would deny what he tells us what they have done and said, even if they look like fools, caught up with their own lies.
Ahh, this saga will surely be in history as one of the most obvious but without evidence case of conspiracy that could make stronger the leadership of this administration if they are able to prove their innocence which is more likely since those who are so-called people who serve are their minions. But this could also be the cause of its downfall. Even then, all the president’s men wouldn’t be able to put “Humpty Dumpty” together again.