BISHOP VICENTE Navarra is calling on the public to join the Mass for Truth. A Mass will be held at 5 p.m. today at the San Sebastian Cathedral to rally the people to call for, search, and stand for truth. Especially on the graft and corruption in government.

Let us not limit ourselves to the NBN deal. The deal is only one of them. Let’s all rally for truth.

And like the Bishop, I am not in favor of calling for President Arroyo to step down. We might lose our search for truth again and, the biggest question is who will take over? We might be jumping from the frying pan to the fire.

Truth, crushed to earth, will rise again. The price of eternity is hers. But a lie, though raised, writhes in pain. And dies among its worshippers. I can’t recall who originally said that.

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What is the truth with the NBN deal? Former Senate President Jovito Salonga said, the best way is to file case or cases with the Ombudsman. He said there are evidences. Salonga authored a book on law on “Evidence.”

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines is interested, too. Its officials believed whistle blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. is a “very, very credible witness” during the Senate inquiry.

Except for a very few who are close to Malacañang, almost everybody believed in the testimony of Lozada.

Because of this, the President has chosen to join the Church and other groups in search for the truth. The problem, however, is the President was not believed by many when she said that. They were lukewarm in accepting her office.

This, to me, is what is bad. The cartoon of Daily Inquirer yesterday showed Juan de la Cruz offering his Valentine a big heart labeled “Truth and Integrity.”

Let’s get down to brass-tacks. Let’s go for truth. And I believe we will achieve it if we all join for the call. Let’s beat the Cathedral at 5 this afternoon.

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Here’s a text message I got from Cell Phone No. 09177220077. It’s eye opening.

“At the time of NBN deal when the dollar was P50 to P1, the kickback being demanded by Abalos equaled P6.5 billion. This is more than half of the budget for the department of health. More than 5 times than the entire yearly budget of the Philippine General Hospital. It would have paid for 49,000 open heart surgeries, 325 cataract surgeries and a full course of anti-biotics for at least 6.5 million people. And this is only one anomalous deal. It’s no wonder people are dying without the benefit of health care. So how can the economic gains claimed by government trickle down to the people?”

He added, “Prepare for hell all the crocodiles of government. Time will catch up on you. You cannot run away from God’s wrath, even the Big Boy is now starting to feel it. The worst is yet come.”

Read this text again. Then imagine all those corruption in government and the amount of money stolen that has deprived our people of the basic needs. Then sit down and cry.

Don’t cry for me, Philippines . Cry for the Filipinos.

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The news said, the NBI raid the former office of Jun Lozada. The NBI said, no. They only tried to look for papers for the NBN contract.

I believe Lozada has nothing to fear. What has he to fear? The harrowing experiences he got from unsympathetic Senators to his cause was more than enough to have rattled him.

He cried, yes. His eyes were red. He was also emotional with all the harassments. But, he stood his ground. It’s because, he said, he told the truth.

I believe no one was able to trip him off. When he was at fault, he never disputed it. He just apologized with his “Mea culpa.”

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I hope Jun Lozada will become a symbol of our fight for truth, if only to lead a crusade against corruption. To everybody Lozada is a big hero.

What is in store for Lozada? It’s misty. But, I know so many will get him because he showed he was a very good executive. Very knowledgeable on many things. And an integrity that the Filipino people are very proud of.

Let Lozada stand as a symbol of our fight for TRUTH.

And let everybody know that it is only the TRUTH that can set us all free. President Arroyo, too, has still two years to prove that she is also for the truth.

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