Truth and Courage

PANGASINENSES had a glimpse of the thoughts and the character of Senate’s latest star whistle-blower Atty. Jun Lozada, courtesy of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

            People across the province came to listen to the man who quoted CHED chair Romulo Neri as having directed him to “moderate their greed” and who described President Arroyo to him as “evil”.  Many came to see the man in the flesh, he who dared to speak the truth and dared the gods of Philippine politics to prove he lied.

            While most came to the prayer rally out of admiration, still others were simply curious about the demeanor of Lozada who’s been able not only to withstand the pressures and threats to his life but managed to sustain his decision to stand up and be counted in the fight and crusade against corruption.

            What is he like? What makes him different? Why him? People wondered.

            As in many forums prior to his arrival in Dagupan City, he showed to all that he is no different from any one in his audience. He confessed to his sins publicly and demonstrated that it doesn’t take singular greatness to precede one’s reputation to speak the truth. It was this persona that awed many in his audience.

            He could easily be mistaken as another accounting clerk but his courage to speak the way he did has set him apart from the rest, particularly those who remain indifferent to the series of scandals that have been traced to the Arroyo government and family.

            But to be sure, there were those in the city who were in panic who immediately set out to demolish precisely that persona about Mr. Lozada. Overnight, the city was riddled with huge wall tarps and leaflets that were clearly aimed at picturing Mr. Lozada as the embodiment of everything immoral and evil. The biggest joke that Mr. Lozada’s detractors concocted was to picture Archbishop Oscar Cruz as his partner in crime. Alas, the black propaganda efforts only succeeded in reinforcing the common perception that the Arroyo government has become so desperate.

            The message from Mr. Lozada is not about how great he was as a whistleblower but rather about us as a people who need to fight for the right, and for the truth. It’s about having the courage to light a candle in the darkness where political monsters cheat, steal and kill for power and money.

            The political monsters we speak of are right in our midst in the province. 

            The enemies of the right and truth are out to do their worst, and sadly for them, they are simply not hitting the right targets. Lozada and Cruz are simply the messengers. What the enemies of truth cannot ever possibly imagine to defeat is the indubitable message for truth and courage.  

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