(The original article appeared in Morning Coffee Thoughts. VERA Files is reposting this with the permission of the author.)
Rodolfo Noel Imperial Lozada Jr., known simply as “Jun Lozada,” stands as one of the most significant whistleblowers in Philippine history. Born in Ligao, Albay, this electronics and communications engineer graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in 1984 and built a distinguished 20-year career in the private sector before entering government service.
Jun is married to Violeta Lozada, and together they have children who were studying at La Salle Green Hills when the family was thrust into the national spotlight. The couple’s commitment to truth would cost them dearly, as both would face legal persecution for Jun’s courage to expose corruption at the highest levels of government.
The National Broadband Network Scandal
The saga began in 2004 when Jun was appointed as President and CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation, a government-owned entity under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. From 2005 to 2008, he simultaneously served as technical adviser to Romulo Neri, the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
In this capacity, Jun became an insider to one of the most controversial infrastructure projects in Philippine history: the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corporation. The project, valued at $329.5 million, was intended to create a telecommunications network linking government offices nationwide.
The Corruption Unveiled
The scandal began to unravel when it became apparent that the contract was grossly overpriced to accommodate massive kickbacks. According to testimony and evidence that emerged:
- Benjamin Abalos Sr., then Commission on Elections Chairman, allegedly stood to receive $130 million in commissions for brokering the deal
- Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was allegedly promised $70 million in kickbacks
- The project cost was inflated by approximately $130 million specifically to cover these corrupt payments
The Fateful Decision to Speak Truth
Jun’s journey as a whistleblower began when he witnessed firsthand the corruption surrounding the NBN-ZTE deal. Joey de Venecia III, son of then-House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., was the first to publicly expose the scandal in September 2007. However, it was Jun’s insider knowledge as Neri’s technical adviser that would prove most damaging to the corrupt officials.
When the Senate began investigating the scandal, Jun faced an impossible choice: remain silent and be complicit in a massive fraud against the Filipino people, or speak the truth and face the wrath of the country’s most powerful politicians.
The Kidnapping and Sanctuary
On January 30, 2008, the Senate issued an arrest warrant for Jun to compel his testimony. Instead of appearing, he fled to Hong Kong, hoping to avoid the impossible situation. However, his conscience would not allow him to remain silent indefinitely.
February 5, 2008: The Abduction
When Jun returned to the Philippines on February 5, 2008, aboard Cathay Pacific Flight 919, he was kidnapped immediately upon disembarking at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. A team of armed men, led by individuals connected to the government, intercepted him before he could meet the Senate team waiting to serve the arrest warrant.
Jun was driven around Metro Manila and even taken as far as Los Baños, Laguna, in what appeared to be an attempt to keep him away from the Senate investigation. During this ordeal, he managed to send text messages to his family, including one that simply stated: “I was kidnapped”.
La Salle Green Hills: A Sanctuary
On February 6, 2008, Jun’s wife Violeta and their children had already sought sanctuary at La Salle Green Hills, where four of their sons were students. The Christian Brothers, led by Brother Edmundo Adolfo Fernandez, provided protection to the family during this dangerous time.
On February 7, 2008, at 2:00 AM, Jun finally emerged at La Salle Green Hills for a historic press conference. Flanked by priests and nuns, he revealed not only that he had been kidnapped but also that he believed high government officials were behind the abduction.
The Historic Senate Testimony
February 8, 2008: Speaking Truth to Power
Jun’s testimony before the Senate on February 8, 2008, became one of the most significant moments in Philippine political history. In his testimony, he:
- Confirmed that Benjamin Abalos had offered Romulo Neri ₱200 million to approve the NBN-ZTE project
- Revealed that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had personally directed that the project be given to Abalos
- Exposed the systematic corruption that had inflated the project cost by over $130 million
- Tagged the Arroyos as the “masterminds behind the NBN-ZTE crime
The aftermath
Jun’s testimony led to immediate and far-reaching consequences:
- Benjamin Abalos was forced to resign as COMELEC Chairman
- President Arroyo cancelled the entire NBN-ZTE project in October 2007
- Multiple impeachment complaints were filed against President Arroyo
The scandal became a defining moment of the Arroyo administration’s corruption
The Price of Truth
Legal Persecution
Rather than being hailed as a hero, Jun faced immediate retaliation:
- Mike Defensor, a close ally of President Arroyo, filed perjury charges against Jun in 2008
- Jun’s wife Violeta was also charged with perjury for filing a habeas corpus petition during his kidnapping
- Both faced multiple additional charges designed to intimidate and silence them
The Graft Conviction
In a cruel irony, while the major players in the NBN-ZTE scandal largely escaped justice, Jun was convicted of a separate graft charge. The case involved his alleged improper awarding of 6.599 hectares of public land to his brother Orlando Lozada through the Philippine Forest Corporation’s Lupang Hinirang Program.
- August 2016: The Sandiganbayan convicted Jun and Orlando of graft, sentencing them to 6-10 years in prison
- July 2021: The Supreme Court denied their appeal
- March 2022: The Supreme Court ruling was publicized
- une 2, 2022: The Lozada brothers surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation
Prison: The final test
Jun spent nearly three years in New Bilibid Prison, from June 2022 to May 2025. Even in prison, he demonstrated the same character that made him a whistleblower:
- First year: At the Reception and Diagnostic Center, prison gang leaders made him “bosyo” (mayor) of 200 inmates, recognizing his integrity
- Seven months: In the medium security compound, he taught illiterate cellmates to read and write
- Final year: In the minimum security area, he preached the Word and taught about José Rizal
Throughout his imprisonment, Jun never wavered in his commitment to truth. As he stated when entering prison: “My enemies made good with their threats that they will make me regret telling the truth… But they will not succeed in making me regret my decision to side with the truth and the people”.
Freedom at Last
On May 9, 2025, after serving the minimum period of their sentences, Jun and Orlando Lozada were released on parole from New Bilibid Prison. The Bureau of Corrections confirmed their release, marking the end of a nearly three-year ordeal that began with their surrender in 2022.
The release was announced publicly on July 9, 2025, finally bringing news of Jun’s freedom to the Filipino people who had supported him throughout his trials.
The Broader Impact
What the NBN-ZTE Scandal Revealed
The NBN-ZTE scandal, brought to light primarily through Jun’s courage, exposed:
- Systematic corruption at the highest levels of government
- The willingness of powerful officials to use kidnapping and intimidation against whistleblowers
- The failure of institutions to protect those who expose corruption
- The personal cost of standing up for truth in a corrupt system
The Irony of Justice
While Jun served nearly three years in prison for a relatively minor graft case, the major players in the NBN-ZTE scandal largely escaped consequences:
- Benjamin Abalos was acquitted of graft charges in 2016
- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo faced charges but they were eventually dismissed
- Mike Arroyo and other key figures avoided significant punishment
The people who stood by truth
Throughout his ordeal, Jun was supported by:
- The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) and the La Salle Brothers, who provided sanctuary and protection
- Civil society organizations and ordinary citizens who recognized his sacrifice
- His family, particularly his wife Violeta, who endured legal persecution alongside him
- Young Filipinos who saw in him a model of integrity and courage
Legacy of Courage
Jun Lozada’s story represents more than just one man’s courage; it embodies the Filipino people’s struggle for accountability and transparency in government. His willingness to sacrifice his freedom, his family’s security, and his personal well-being for the truth serves as an inspiration to all who believe that corruption must be exposed regardless of the personal cost.
As Jun once said: “Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang ginawa kong pagpanig sa katotohanan” (I do not regret my decision to side with the truth). His story reminds us that in a world where powerful interests often prevail over justice, there are still individuals willing to pay the ultimate price for integrity.
A Thank You long overdue
Jun Lozada’s release from prison on May 9, 2025, marks not just the end of his personal ordeal, but a moment for the Filipino people to reflect on the true meaning of patriotism and sacrifice. His courage to speak truth to power, his willingness to endure kidnapping, legal persecution, and imprisonment, and his unwavering commitment to the Filipino people deserve not just recognition, but our deepest gratitude.
In a time when corruption continues to plague our institutions, Jun Lozada’s example reminds us that there are still heroes among us – ordinary citizens who choose to do extraordinary things when faced with extraordinary circumstances. His story is a testament to the power of truth and the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced by intimidation or persecution.
Salamat, Jun Lozada, sa inyong kadakilaan at katapangan. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo para
inyong kadakilaan at katapangan. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo para sa katotohanan.