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Whistleblower Jun Lozada loses appeal in SC; prison looms over graft conviction

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Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jun Lozada awaits the Sandiganbayan decision on his graft case. ABS-CBN News/file" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/05/27/05272022-jun-lozada.jpg"/><figcaption>NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jun Lozada awaits the Sandiganbayan decision on his graft case. <em>ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, the whistleblower in government’s foiled broadband network deal with Chinese company ZTE Corp., will soon land in prison after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in a graft case that also involved his brother.</p><p>The case centered on Lozada’s awarding to his brother of a leasehold right of some 6,599 hectares of public land, as president and chief executive officer of the state-owned Philippine Forest Corporation (PhilForest) in 2007.</p><p>In a “thank you” message that he sent to his relatives and friends, who also include a number of journalists he has met years ago, Lozada believes that the SC ruling has something to do with what he had exposed before the Senate years ago.</p><p>“My appeal at the Supreme Court was denied. They affirmed my conviction by the Sandigan (Sandiganbayan) to a 6-10 years prison term at the Bilibid (New Bilibid Prisons),” Lozada said in his message.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/23/16/whistleblower-jun-lozada-found-guilty-of-graft">Whistleblower Jun Lozada found guilty of graft</a></li></ul><p>“My enemies made good with their threats that they will make me regret for telling the truth,&quot; he added.</p><p>Lozada said he will not change his tune on allegations he made regarding the NBN-ZTE deal.</p><p>“Yes, they succeeded in sending me to prison. But they will not succeed in making me regret my decision to side with the truth and the people. Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang ginawa kong pagpanig sa katotohanan,” Lozada said.</p><p>(I do not regret siding with the truth.)</p><p>He ended his message to his relatives and friends with the words: “Let me thank you for all the support.”</p><p>When reached for further comments, Lozada turned down the request, citing his family&#x27;s need to “prepare”.</p><p>In a series of Senate hearings between 2007 to 2008, Lozada told the Senate that key government officials during the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration tried to pocket millions of pesos worth of grease money for the foiled National Broadband Network (NBN) deal.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/24/08/timeline-exposing-zte-overprice">TIMELINE: Exposing the ZTE Overprice</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/10/09/blue-ribbon-seeks-raps-vs-arroyo-fg-nbn-zte-deal">(UPDATE 4) Blue Ribbon seeks probe vs Arroyo, raps vs FG for NBN-ZTE deal</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/10/09/%E2%80%98crying%E2%80%99-whistleblower-slams-nbn-zte-probe-report">‘Crying’ whistleblower slams NBN-ZTE probe report</a></li></ul><p>The scandal and allegations eventually resulted in the filing of graft cases against Arroyo, former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos, and others, which later ended in their acquittal.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/12/29/11/arroyos-nbn-zte-graft-case-be-raffled-jan-2">Ombudsman files graft charges vs GMA for NBN-ZTE deal</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/11/07/12/court-starts-nbn-linked-graft-case-vs-arroyo">Court starts NBN-linked graft case vs Arroyo</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/16/16/sandiganbayan-dismisses-nbn-zte-graft-case-vs-arroyos">Sandiganbayan dismisses NBN-ZTE graft case vs Arroyos</a></li></ul><p>A number of senators who actively participated in the Senate investigation and who then actively defended Lozada, did not respond to ABS-CBN News’ request for their reaction.</p><p>But returning senator and outgoing Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero has expressed his disbelief on the fate of Lozada.</p><p>“I am not familiar with the details of the case or decision but it does seem ironic that one of the most famous whistleblowers was himself convicted of graft,” Escudero said in a text message.</p><p>“I expect Mr. Lozada to appeal this ruling before the SC and I wish him well in the struggles he continues to face years after his explosive testimony against past administrations,” Escudero added.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2053657" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div class="iwantbar"> </div>

Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada will soon land in prison after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in a graft case that also involved his brother.

Whistleblower Jun Lozada loses appeal in SC; prison looms over graft conviction

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Whistleblower Jun Lozada loses appeal in SC; prison looms over graft conviction

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2022 05:15 PM PHT

|

Updated May 27, 2022 06:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Jun Lozada

graft

Supreme Court

NBN-ZTE deals PhilForest

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