Jun Lozada released from Bilibid, recalls travails of truth tellers

Jun Lozada is finally out of "political" prison. "Political" because, while he was convicted of graft in 2016, powerful politicos ensured his incarceration for telling the truth about their bigger crimes.

- JARIUS BONDOC

Those crimes included plunder, bribery and abduction related to the National Broadband Network-ZTE Corp. scam.

Jun was at Bilibid three weeks short of three years. He suffered degradations but came out more discerning and devoted to Truth.

Jun first spent a year at Reception and Diagnostic Center. Noting his concern for the oppressed, prison gang lords made him "bosyo" or "mayor" of a "butas" or "brigada" of 200 inmates. Jun made sure that nobody died during his watch, despite water and septic crisis.

Moved to the medium security compound for seven months, he taught illiterate cellmates to read and write. Finally, at the minimum security area for a year, he found more time to preach the Word and teach about Rizal.

Jun was one of three whistleblowers for my 2007-2008 exposé on the NBN-ZTE scam. Businessman Joey de Venecia first divulged how then first gentleman Mike Arroyo told him to "back off" the project. Engr. Dante Madriaga then detailed the $10-million "appearance fee" for president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to personally sign the deal in Boao, Hainan, China on April 20, 2007. Economic Sec. Romy Neri testified at the Senate that Comelec chairman Ben Abalos insinuated a P20-million bribe to endorse it.

Jun knew gorier details. He verified NBN to cost only $72 million to meld the country's landline, cellular and internet gateways and systems. He didn't expect China state-controlled ZTE to take interest.