ILOILO CITY – Unfazed by threats, ZTE-NBN whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. will be coming to Iloilo and Bacolod cities as part of his provincial trips to give talks on the alleged bribery scandal.

Lozada announced to students and youths attending a protest concert here last Friday that he will be in Iloilo on March 14 to meet with groups and speak before students calling for truth and accountability on the scrapped ZTE-NBN.

Protest organizers said he will proceed to Bacolod City in the afternoon after arriving in Iloilo.

In his statement, Lozada called on the youth to remain vigilant and relentless in their fight against corruption in government.

“Huwag kayong titigil. Ang dami-dami ng anomalya na naririto sa pamahalaan natin. Kahit isa walang natapos, walang nalutas. Kahit isa, hindi natin nalaman ang katotohanan (Don’t stop. There are many anomalies happening in our government. Not one has been resolved. We do not know the truth in even just one of these anomalies),” Lozada said through phone patch.

The surprise statement of Lozada at the height of the concert held at the grounds of the Iloilo provincial capitol, sent the more than 400 protesters, mostly students, into a frenzy.

The protesters clapped and cheered, at times drowning out Lozada’s speech as he congratulated Ilonggo students for being part of the protest movement calling for truth and justice in connection with the NBN-ZTE bribery scandal.

He asked the help of the youth to push the government to reveal the truth behind the scrapped deal.

“I hope that I can rely on you not to stop until the truth on the NBN-ZTE deal will be known,” Lozada said.

He spoke while video clips showing caricatures mocking President Macapagal-Arroyo, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri were flashed in a giant screen beside the stage.

The concert was organized by the Youth for Accountability and Truth.

Rizza Joy Mapa, Y Act convenor, said the protest rock concert debunked claims of allies of the President Macapagal-Arroyo that the protest actions calling for her resignation were only concentrated in Makati and in Manila.

“The youth are being roused nationwide by the greed and callousness of those holding the highest positions in our country,” Mapa said.*NPB

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