FDC ‘blows whistle’ vs. Abalos, FG over Lozada’s revelation on ZTE-NBN deal

PRESS RELEASE
Freedom from Debt Coalition
11 Matimpiin St., Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City, Philipines
Tel. No.: (+632) 9211985 | Telefax: (+632) 9246399
Email: fdc_media@yahoo.com
Contact persons:
Loretta Ann Rosales, FDC vice president, + 63 918 933 4356
Bobby Diciembre, FDC media bureau, +63 920 905 9856

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
08 February 2008

FDC ‘blows whistle’ vs. Abalos, FG over Lozada’s revelation on ZTE-NBN deal

BLOWING their whistles in support of national broadband network project key witness Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr., members of the Freedom from Debt Coalition today staged a protest action in front of the Senate condemning the alleged role of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo in the controversial deal.

Former House Representative and now FDC vice president Etta Rosales lauded Lozada for his courage in revealing what he knows about the involvement of former Commission on Election chair Benjamin Abalos and Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s husband in the $329-million ZTE-NBN deal.

“This ZTE-NBN deal is a glaring example of how the government conducts its business concerning billions of dollars at the expense of the taxpayers who will shoulder the burden of footing the overpriced bill. Jun Lozada is right in saying that this deal is ‘one transactional example of a dysfunctional government procurement’ system,” said Rosales.

In his press conference Wednesday morning at the De La Salle Greenhills, Lozada revealed that when he left the project in January 18, 2007, the deal was only worth $262 million. The following month, the Office of the President issued an executive order transferring the Telos, the implementing agency of the NBN project, under the Department of Transportation and Communication. After two months, Lozada was surprised to learn that the project was approved at $329 million, not through the originally planned build-operate-transfer scheme but through a loan from China.

Lozada also narrated how Chairman Abalos threatened to have him killed because the then COMELEC official wanted to protect his $130 million commission from the project.

“Lozada was allegedly asked by NEDA chief Romulo Neri to ‘moderate their greed’. Indeed, this case has clearly exposed the rapacity that has become the hallmark of this Arroyo administration and its officials. Enough is enough!” exclaimed the former activist lawmaker.

“We fought for the cancellation of this overpriced project after Joey De Venecia exposed the anomalies involved, because just like its analog predecessor, the Telepono sa Barangay, it has the potential of becoming a ‘white elephant’,” said Rosales.

“The ZTE-NBN deal could be Mrs. Arroyo’s waterloo. We just hope that nothing bad will happen to Jun Lozada and his family for breaking the code of omerta regarding this anomalous deal,” stressed Rosales. -30-