08/07/2025
Jun Lozada has squared off with history. Yet the main actors in the NBN scam remain free, some even reelected to public office.
Jun Lozada released from Bilibid,
recalls travails of truth tellers
by Jarius Bondoc - July 9, 2025
Jun Lozada is finally out of “political” prison. “Political” because, while he was convicted of graft in 2016, powerful politicos ensured his incarceration for telling the truth about their bigger crimes.
Those crimes included plunder, bribery, and abduction related to the National Broadband Network – ZTE Corp scam.
Jun was at Bilibid three weeks short of three years. He suffered degradations but came out more discerning and devoted to Truth.
Jun first spent a year at Reception and Diagnostic Center. Noting his concern for the oppressed, prison gang lords made him “bosyo” or “mayor” of a “butas” or “brigada” of 200 inmates. Jun made sure that nobody died during his watch, despite water and septic crises.
Moved to the medium-security compound for seven months, he taught illiterate cellmates to read and write. Finally at the minimum-security area for a year, he found more time to preach the Word and teach about Rizal.
Jun was one of three whistleblowers for my 2007-2008 exposé on the NBN - ZTE scam. Businessman Joey de Venecia first divulged how then–First gentleman Mike Arroyo told him to “back off” the project. Engr. Dante Madriaga then detailed the $10 million “appearance fee” for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to personally sign the deal in Boao, Hainan, China on Apr. 20th, 2007. Economic Sec. Romy Neri testified at the Senate that Comelec chairman Ben Abalos insinuated P200-million bribe to endorse it.
Jun knew gorier details. He verified NBN to cost only $72 million to meld the country’s landline, cellular, and Internet gateways and systems. He didn’t expect China state-controlled ZTE to take interest.
Under instructions from Neri to “moderate their greed”, Jun questioned ZTE’s asking price of $130 million (P7 billion). He discovered the “greedy group” that added “tong-pats” (patong, overprice) of $200 million (P10 billion).
A Senate inquiry recommended criminal charges. Sandiganbayan dismissed all, except the one against Jun.
Malacañang, trying to hide the President’s signature, even claimed that I stole all copies of the contract upon its signing at Boao airport, where I’ve never been. Henchmen threatened to release a prisoner for one night to kill De Venecia and me.
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Behind bars Jun reflected on his fate and wrote, “The Problem with Truth”.
“The truth shall set you free. Free from anxiety and burden of sin. But it brings problems of another kind.
“Human society rewards lies with wealth, power and fame. It makes a person pay for his love of truth, and that creates a problem for him. He becomes a target for every kind of opposition from those who profit from lies. From the casual insult of those who envy his righteousness to the carefully planned conspiracy of those who are threatened by the light he brings.
“The problem this creates for the man of truth is how to be patient when all his natural instincts urge him to strike back with every weapon and ability at his command.
“Another problem of the man whom God illuminates with the truth is his eyes. He is given a new pair of eyes that see through the darkness the devil has cast over the world. Those blinded by this darkness resent his claim to sight. They will go to any length to discredit the claim.
“The last problem of the man who loves the truth is the humility and courage that allow him to speak and act boldly of spiritual and moral rectitude. It is misinterpreted as fake news by followers of the dark lords, who are kept poor, hungry and ignorant, thus remaining deaf and blind to the truth.
“Others who can hear and see the man of truth are paralyzed into submission by fear of the enemy of truth. Sooner or later this will get the man of truth into trouble, most often alone.
“But the man of truth accepts these problems as opportunities to love and serve God more. He turns these problems into a footstool to step on as he scales greater heights to pick the blessed fruits of truth. Bringing glory to God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
“This is to encourage truth lovers to carry on with the life of truth. Telling them that living in the truth is not a bed of roses. It is filled with insults, difficulties and dangers. But truth lovers welcome these problems as part of the territory of living in a world ruled by evil. Knowing fully well that these challenges are nothing but footstools in gaining height to pick the divine fruits that endures for ages for God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
“More power and God bless you, lovers of truth.
“Footnote: inspired by AW Tozer.”
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Tozer was an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. Enlightenment came one day while on his way home from work. He overheard a street preacher say, "If you don't know how to be saved ... just call on God, saying, 'Lord, be merciful to me a sinner’.” Upon getting home, he climbed into the attic, heeded the preacher's advice, and studied the Bible.
In prison Jun for a while slept in the “attic”. There was no more space to lie down on the cold cement floor. “Bosyos” were consigned side by side to a plywood bed raised near the ceiling. From there they smelled and sweated from the body heat below.
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