Engr. Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada is coming to town to meet with Pangasinenses.

Following an invitation from Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the star witness in the NBN-ZTE broadband scandal will be in Dagupan City on April 4 for a “Mass for

Truth, Justice and Peace”.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Cruz said he extended the invitation so Lozada could “also share his knowledge and answer people’s queries” in the province about the controversial deal that has been hounding Arroyo.

Cruz’s enthusiasm for the arrival of Lozada is in stark contrast to the cold and indifferent reception accorded him by the clergy in Cebu City led by Cardinal Vidal.

Lozada has been accepting invitations to speak around the country as part of his crusade to ferret the truth regarding the tainted contract which he described to have been hugely overpriced that involved, among others, the President’s husband and the former COMELEC chairman Ben Abalos.

Cruz said the event will start at 1:00 p.m. at The Dagupan People’s Astrodome with a Mass that will be concelebrated by the clergy of Dagupan together with two bishops.

An open forum will follow where Lozada will address the audience and field questions.

Cruz said the search for truth continues even in Pangasinan which Mrs.

Arroyo considers as her second home province.

Cruz said he opted to have the Mass outside a Catholic church as “it would be somehow unbecoming if the Mass followed by a forum would be held inside the Church”.

The outspoken archbishop also announced more rallies will be organized after Lozada’s visit to demonstrate the people’s condemnation of the “lies, corruption and bribery under Mrs. Arroyo’s presidency”.

“This is non-stop and it shall become bigger and bigger,” Cruz said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Salvador Duque, chancellor of Lyceum-Northwestern University and elder brother of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, squirmed at the attention being given to Lozada.

Duque, a staunch supporter of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, thinks that Lozada needs to undergo a psychiatric examination to determine his mental health.

Duque pointed out that during the senate hearings, Lozada would one moment be crying then glances at the crowd to measure if his tears were effective.

He also deplored why people, including priests and nuns, made Lozada a hero because to him he is not a credible witness.

One proof, he said, was when one senator asked Lozada if he knew First Gentleman Mike Arroyo whom he accused of involvement in the NBN-ZTE deal. His answer was no.

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