A thriller at the Senate

It was a blockbuster, one of the greatest presentations ever seen within the so-called august halls of the Senate. One proof that it was really something very important was the fact that there was reportedly an almost one-hundred percent attendance at the Senate, to say nothing about a full gallery. And what was the title of the show? The Revelations of Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr.

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It was supposed to be a true story, that is why it drew so much interest. And it was also narrated as a first person account, so the lead star was able to capture the interest of his entire audience, not only those within the chamber, but also for the thousands, maybe millions out there, keeping close watch, their eyes and ears focused on their television screens. The fact that there had been a lot of suspense days before, when Lozada was believed abducted from the airport, was the come-on for the production.

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And oh what an exciting, captivating, suspenseful and frightening tale we heard. Just like those box-office hits, this one also had threats, drama, power, influence, police and military might, inputed into it. If the story unfolded by Lozada is all true, then it proves once again the saying that truth is stranger than fiction. The circumstances often seem to be incredible, the application of power overwhelming.

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Last week, the Senate was frustrated when it found that the bird they were calling to a hearing had flown the coop. TV footages showed Rodolfo Lozada, their quarry, hustling himself off to Hongkong, allegedly on the way to London . Now that Lozada is back, he has finally faced the Senate and has revealed the circumstances behind his flight, how he was rushed off to prevent him from testifying, how his documents were ante-dated, and how the conference given as the excuse for his departure was not even scheduled for a week yet.

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But his return was even more exciting. Hardly had his plane landed when he was spirited off, through areas banned to ordinary passengers, and then taken on a long aimless ride during which his suspicion and fear just grew stronger. Eventually, he was set down by his abductors and, according to him, this was only when they were instructed to do so by their leader who said it was because “the media was getting hot on them”. Hurrah for my colleagues in the media! Just like at the Peninsula , your persistence has again protected, maybe saved, a human being in danger.

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One could not help staying on in front of the TV as the senators questioned Lozada, who was surrounded all the while by a phalanx of nuns, all looking ready to cover them with their habits at any sign of danger. I bet they were also praying all the time he was testifying, praying that he would be inspired to tell the truth. Several senators took turns in asking him questions, and he hurdled all of them, even those from the obviously hostile Senator Juan Ponce Enrile (whose wife is being named ambassador to the Vatican) and Senator Miriam Santiago (who is hoping to head a United Nations agency), as well as the naughty one from Senator Jamby Madrigal, who wanted to know about the relationship between CHED chairman Romulo Neri and two other men. Tsk, tsk. Students are listening.

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I confess I got distracted by the senators who insisted on speaking in Tagalog, because, like most non-Tagalogs, I need to translate in my head what they say. And I'm sure many others in non-Tagalog regions feel the same way. That was what Senator Loren Legarda did, though she didn't sound as if she were speaking Tagalog, the way she enunciates all her words so meticulously, as if she were still broadcasting on TV. And then there was also Senator Jinggoy Estrada, but I forgot about his language when he produced photographs taken at the airport where Lozada was able to identify himself and the men who snatched him. Hurrah!

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A light moment came when someone asked why the first gentleman referred to Lozada as “J Lo”, like the movie actress, and not “Jun” like the others did. Rodolfo Lozada said this was because Mike Arroyo knew another Jun Lozada whom he did not like, so he did not want to hear the name. Somebody in the background quipped, “Ah, the one who was the opponent of Jose Pidal”.

See? That show also had touches of comedy.*

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