The NBN/ ZTE Chronicles Episode I

An article by Isagani Cruz published in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column on February 24, 2008 is a mirror of the way many so- called enlightened Filipinos sell their not-so-worthy views to the public.

This is another example of an “expert” opinion maker peddling his version of the gospel truth when the truth of the matter, he didn’t even know nor bothered to search for the “real” truth.

Had the good award-winning writer and PhD now conveniently at home in the Court of Public Opinion bothered to exercise one of the basic fundamentals of common sense, then he should know that contrary to the norm that he is used to, he needs to read the entire transcript or at least watch the entire proceedings on TV before arriving to his conclusions.

He could have save us the time of reading his one- cent take on the issues surrounding Mike Defensor’s relationship with “NBN/ZTE whistle blower” Jun Lozada that is based purely on hearsay, incomplete texts, conjectures and insufficient evidence.

If this is the way he arrives at his dissertations during his time in those prestigious institutions on the way to his PhD, then God Bless all the people who in one way or another went under his pen and style; for it is not the way to ferret out the truth. Or  maybe in his current state of mind, he just confuse his facts with fiction.

Here’s an excerpt of his article entitled Fairy Tales in the Senate-

It is significant that when in the course of their conversation, he learned of Lozada’s financial need, he asked his wife (as if he didn’t know) if she had any money on her. She said yes and gave him a sealed envelope that he handed to Lozada, who said he received but did not accept it, instead turning it over to the religious brothers for safekeeping. The envelope was opened at the hearing and was found to contain a wad of bills that Defensor said totaled P50,000. (Different from the P500,000 from Manuel Gaite, but that’s another tall story.)

I am nonplused that the investigating Senate, with many lawyers in its ranks, not to mention its other members who were equally interested in Defensor’s role in the thickening plot, did not think fit to ask some relevant and curious questions about his mysterious generosity.

Did the money come from Defensor’s magnanimous fortune or was it given to him by some anonymous benefactor to deliver to Lozada for some unannounced reason? Whatever its source, why were the Defensors carrying it along the dark streets knowing that hold-ups are common in Metro Manila even in broad daylight? Was it customary for Ms Defensor to carry big amounts of money like that, probably as mere petty cash to be treated as some loose change only? If it was intended for some special purpose, perhaps the purchase of a safe, why was it necessary to pay for it outside regular office hours? Although Defensor said he first asked his wife if she had some money on her, why did he accept the sealed envelope without first checking its contents and readily gave it to Lozada like kuwarta o kahon? Wasn’t this like a well-acted scene in a Viva film by the bida and his leading lady? And, yes, why did our hero bring his lovely wife with him—a wisp of a girl to act maybe as his bodyguard—during that nocturnal adventure?

These are suspicious circumstances that make Defensor’s sworn statements during that hearing too ridiculous to deserve intelligent acceptance. Any fair-minded judge at a proper trial would give short shrift to such a testimony and simply dismiss it as an affront to the truth that, in that Senate hearing, Defensor crudely dismembered.

The sworn statements of the other administration witnesses who “escorted and protected” the restrained Lozada and drove him around aimlessly for hours while waiting for instructions from above on what to do with their shivering captive are of the same putridity as Defensor’s fairy tale. The intelligent public cannot be easily duped by such palpable falsehoods

It is funny how the very intelligent PhD arrived at his conclusion when it’s plain and simple that he did not do his part or even if he did, he obviously suffered from a very serious case of omission which is a no-no if one is indeed after the truth and nothing but the whole truth.

For the uninformed, Mike Defensor testified in the Senate that he and his wife came straight from their daughter’s birthday party, so by that admission alone explains the presence of his wife in La Salle Greenhills where Lozada’s police escorts brought him for “safe-keeping”.

Besides what’s wrong with Defensor’s wife by her husband’s side when visiting a “friend” to support him after his “ordeal”? It’s an old- age Filipino practice, if you ask me.

Only people with malice and suspicious minds will impute that Mr. Defensor’s wife is part of the grand plan to buy- out and silence Jun Lozada. To me, it’s just a friend trying to help another friend in dire straits.

Also in our culture, the wives are usually the last ones that the macho Pinoys will involve in  “dangerous situations or wrongdoings.”  Pinoys are very protective of their wives that’s why I don’t buy the notion that Mike Defensor will allow his wife to be part of such plan if there is indeed such a plan.

As for the money, most Filipinos prefers to carry cash even at this age and time of the ATM Cards, you can only withdraw certain amounts from them machines.  Ever heard of the daily limit on withdrawals that the banks imposed on the ATMs?  Isn’t it more convenient if you have money at the ready for any eventuality rather than risk getting stuck in a long line at the ATM machine?

This is not to mention the fact that Defensor already talked to Lozada earlier and learned that his “kumpare” was short on cash. Any good- willing kumpare, if he has the means will not hesitate to do what Mike Defensor did for a kumpare. I’m sure once in our lives, a lot of us have in one way or another did a similar deed for a friend in need.

Although in the end, we can deduce that Lozada did not really need those “pamalengke” money since he also asked his boss, Lito Atienza and Undersecretary Gaite for more money. Gaite, a former seminarian and his kababayan from Bicol heeded his pleas and gave him through his brother who signed a receipt for the amount of 500, 000 pesos earlier. If it was indeed hush money how come Mr. Gaite asked Lozada’s brother to sign a receipt for the said amount?

No matter what Lozada and his handlers say and do, it is very clear that his actions was a classic case of a set- up job in order to support and implement their devious plans.  In doing so, he betrayed his well- meaning “friends”  who were only too willing to help him out of his predicament and that by doing so, in their minds they’re also helping the President in  way even though they don’t know the real situation behind it.

I think these government officials were just all over- eager to be in the good graces of the President because they thought Lozada indeed has the “Bomb” against the First Gentleman’s involvement in a very big scandal!

Of course, we all know by now that that is not the case, since Lozada as of this writing has been exposed to have been in contact with Senator Lacson’s people all along and up to this very moment have not shown us any documents nor any other pieces of evidence to support his accusations and claims.

If Mr. Cruz who is refuted to be a Filipino with a very keen eye and sound mind by virtue of his being a PhD and an award- winning writer can be swayed by obvious propaganda, what more the “ordinary” Filipinos who make up the population?

I say, everything that is happening right now is just part of the dirty game that is politics that we Filipinos are very sick of but very adept in playing.

I say, if Mr. Lozada had the goods against certain people in the government, then better bring his case to the proper forum and let them stand on its own merit and not engage in innuendos, gossips and warrant-less accusations in the media and in the senate at the expense of taxpayers money.

I say, if he has the goods then do what is the right thing to do otherwise he should shut up.  He just can’t slander people left and right and get away with it if he can’t even back it up with one single piece of evidence.

I say, bring it on and let the full force of the law take care of the rest.

Note: To all my readers in the old BungangAraw, it’s good to be back. This is my first blog entry here in WordPress. In future blog entries, I will continue writing without fear or favor. I will  tell and say it like it is, even if my opinion will be against the views of the majority or the noisy few.