Lozada respects CBCP statement

MANILA, February 27, 2008—Senate witness on the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal probe Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada yesterday said he respects the "collective wisdom" of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) when it decided not to join calls for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation.

Speaking before a forum of the Makati Rotary Club, Lozada said he felt no remorse over the CBCP's statement that merely recommended the abolition of Executive Order 464, which requires Cabinet members to secure permission from Malacañang before attending any legislative hearing involving matters of the executive branch.

"I would accept the collective wisdom of the bishops but I would continue to follow my conscience," he said, apparently pertaining to his aggressive campaign for truth on corruption of the Administration.

But Lozada said he recognizes the differences in perspective of the bishops, saying "the bishops have their own mind."

"I'm sure the bishops have their unique opinions. Different bishops, different strokes," he said.

Although the prelates were not able to meet the nation's expectation over calls for Arroyo to resign, Lozada said the bishop's recommendation for the abolition of the EO 464 may lead the Palace to allow Commission on Higher Education chair Romulo Neri to further reveal details of alleged bribery and overpricing of the anomalous NBN deal with China's ZTE Corporation.

"I believe Sec. Neri is only waiting for the Supreme Court ruling over his appeal to invoke executive privilege. But with the repeal of EO 464, he can now speak about the truth he is carrying for a long time already," he said.

Neri was the director-general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) at the time the NBN-ZTE deal was approved. He once appeared before the Senate to speak of the P200 million commission offered him by resigned Elections Commissioner Benjamin Abalos, Sr.

But when asked to divulge the further conversations he had with the President regarding the bribe attempt, Neri invoked executive privilege to offset further inquiry. In questioning the authority of the Senate, Neri appealed before the Supreme Court to justify his invocation of privacy.

(Kris Bayos of cbcpnews.com)