MANILA, Philippines—Whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. Sunday admonished the Filipino people for not taking action against the rampant corruption in the administration.

“Everyone knows a bright future awaits us if we would only act,” Lozada lamented Sunday in a speech he delivered at the Most Holy Trinity Parish in Manila, where the eighth Holy Mass for Truth, Justice and Accountability was held.

He added, “However, everyone just wants a piece of the ‘balato’ (goodwill money).”

While criticism about his motives continue, the NBN-ZTE deal key witness said that despite the obstacles and trials he faced every day, he would continue his fight for the truth.

He said his decision to tell the truth about the $329-million NBN-ZTE deal was brought about by his desire to serve God.

“I am not going to sacrifice myself for politics and for any government position,” Lozada said.

He added: “In front of this altar, I am declaring that I left my once comfortable life to offer my life to the Lord.”

Lozada, who on Saturday commemorated the day he said he was abducted from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in February, revealed earlier that the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) had warned him about associating with a political party or figure.

Best-kept secret

“This is one of the best-kept secrets of my present predicament which I had not shared with the public until I recently got permission from the AMRSP,” Lozada said in his letter of reflection Sunday.

He said one of the conditions of the AMRSP, whose nuns have been providing him sanctuary the last two months, was that he should refrain from identifying himself with any political party or person “or they will be forced to take the Lozada family out of their sanctuary program.”

Meanwhile, Salvador Panelo, counsel for former Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos, has been following Lozada in his speaking engagements in the provinces to rebut his allegations against his client.

Lozada has accused Abalos of being behind the kickbacks in the scuttled NBN-ZTE deal.

Neutralizer

“I’ve been hounding him. I’m his conscience. He’s spreading lies and I’ve been neutralizing him,” Panelo said in a phone interview last week before pushing off for Dagupan City where Lozada was scheduled to make an appearance Thursday night.

Panelo said he was in Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao City and Bicol when Lozada was there urging the public to take a stand against graft and corruption.

He explained that it was “unfair” of Lozada to “malign” Abalos throughout the country.

“I intend to neutralize his negative and malicious propaganda against my client every step of the way,” Panelo said.