Jun Lozada Freed After Serving Sentence
Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr., the key whistleblower in the controversial 2007 national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Arroyo administration and China’s ZTE Corp., has been released from detention. Alongside his brother Jose Orlando Lozada, he was freed from the national penitentiary after serving the minimum sentence that qualified them for parole, the Bureau of Corrections confirmed.
In an emotional interview, Lozada shared how he learned about his release just days before it happened. “It was surreal. So that’s how it feels when something that you have been praying for suddenly comes,” he said. The experience marked a significant turn in his life after years of imprisonment related to his involvement in the case.
Background on the Controversial NBN-ZTE Deal
An IT expert and former head of the state-run Philippine Forest Corp. (PFC), Lozada exposed alleged corruption, including cost-padding and bribery, tied to the $329-million NBN-ZTE agreement. The project aimed to create a telecommunications network linking government offices nationwide but became mired in controversy.
In 2016, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division found Lozada guilty of graft. The charge stemmed from awarding a lease contract for 6.5 hectares of public land under the PFC’s Lupang Hinirang program to his brother Orlando without following the proper application procedures. Orlando Lozada was also convicted of graft in the same case.
Legal Developments and Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court upheld the graft convictions in 2021, denying the Lozada brothers’ petition for review. Both were sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
Despite the convictions, Jun Lozada remains a significant figure due to his role as a whistleblower who courageously exposed alleged corruption in a high-profile government deal. His release marks the end of a difficult chapter but leaves a lasting impact on the fight against graft in the Philippines.
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