Lozada streamers torn down before his Pangasinan trip
By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 21:22:00 04/01/2008
Filed Under: NBN deal, Regional authorities
DAGUPAN CITY – Was it an April Fool’s prank or were people close to President Macapagal-Arroyo nervous about the planned visit of whistle-blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr.?
In the morning of April 1, residents here discovered that the welcome streamers for Lozada for his Friday visit were missing.
The Social Action Apostolate of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese, which coordinated Lozada’s April 4 visit, put up the streamers. “The streamers have disappeared,” said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.
On April 4, Cruz will lead the celebration of a “Mass for Truth, Justice and Peace.” Lozada will speak at a public forum at the Dagupan Astrodome after the Mass.
San Fabian parish priest Oliver Mendoza, director of the Social Action Apostolate, said he discovered that all streamers were missing on Monday night when he went around the city to check these.
He said he had no idea who removed the streamers.
Cruz said he suspected that political allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo in the city were behind the removal of the streamers.
He said these allies, who he did not name, also asked the city government not to allow the holding of the Mass and forum.
“It is quite interesting to notice how pro-administration loyalists, most of whom must be Malacañang beneficiaries, appear very nervous. They have all the command of power, money and influence and yet they are so afraid of [Lozada] who does not even carry a firecracker,” Cruz said.
Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said he had not received a report about the missing streamers.
He said the city engineer’s office has given the archdiocese a permit to hold the Mass and forum at the astrodome. The display of streamers goes with the permit, he said.
“I will ask the police and the city engineer’s office about it,” Fernandez said.
Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, city police chief, said he also did not receive any formal complaint about the missing streamers.
He said he asked one of his men to talk to Cruz to get details of the incident.
“If we trace the culprits, we would file cases against them,” he said.
Borromeo said he did not think Malacañang was behind the incident.
Cruz, a critic of the Arroyo administration, said he was not angry but was “amused” by the disappearance of the streamers four days before Lozada’s visit.
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