Church officials in Bacolod City yesterday called for prayers for the safety Rodolfo Lozada Jr., the key witness in the Senate inquiry into the national broadband network controversy.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said “I ask for prayers that God will protect from harm people who are courageous to proclaim the truth like Mr. Jun Lozada. God save our country.”

Msgr. Victorino Rivas, vicar general of the Diocese of Bacolod, also called for prayers for Lozada.

His testimony is crucial to determining the moral integrity of the government and to how the people will decide to proceed, based on the information they get, Rivas said.

It is important that the people hear what he has to say for the good of the country, Rivas said.

“We are grateful for the heroism of Lozada because the truth will set us free,” he said.

Lozada Jr., who testified before the Senate yesterday, linked first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and former Commission on Election chairman Benjamin Abalos to the national broadband network controversy, an allegation both have denied. He is set to resume his testimony on Monday.

Abalos wanted a $130-million commission from the agreement that would have connected all government agencies via a broadband network, Lozada, former technical consultant of the NBN project, said.

“When a career official like Jun Lozada fears for his life just because he wants to tell the truth, something is grievously wrong with the government leadership,” Bacolod human rights lawyer Andy Hagad said.

President Gloria Arroyo and her entire Cabinet should resign, Hagad said.

At this point, even Vice President Noli de Castro is a better option, Hagad added.

Former Valladolid Mayor Ricardo Presbitero, Partido ng Masang Pilipino head in Negros , said “Finally there is a conscience driven individual who is putting morality in government service back to where it should be.”

For a long time the opposition has been pushing for reforms and putting checks on the mistakes of the Arroyo government, yet our people have been callous to calls because of apathy, he said.

It is now time that the Church, the people and the military, including incumbent elected officials, unite in order to condemn and put an end to all these corruption, bribery and misgovernance of public funds, he said.

“Outrage must be expressed to correct this wrong…we must act and save out country from moral destruction,” he said.

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5 th District), however, said Lozada is not in a sensitive position so how can he be privy to the information he claims? He wants his 15 seconds of fame, just like Joey de Venecia.

Rep. Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ) said “Let's all wait for the findings of the Senate committee.”

“It's not over until it's over. In the meantime, let's all pray for our country,” he said.*CPG

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