NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada released from Bilibid
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NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada released from Bilibid
NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jun Lozada. ABS-CBN News/File
NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Jun Lozada. ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA (2ND UPDATE) — Jun Lozada, the whistleblower in the controversial NBN-ZTE broadband deal during the Arroyo administration, has been released from the New Bilibid Prison along with his brother, Jose Orlando Lozada, the Bureau of Corrections confirmed Thursday.
The bureau said the Lozada brothers were released on May 9, 2025, after serving the minimum period of their sentences.
Their release was granted following a parole recommendation by the Board of Pardons and Parole, which determined them to be eligible under existing guidelines.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News following his release on May 9, Lozada described his newfound freedom as “surreal”, comparing it to “a house you’ve prayed for, for so long, that has finally come.”
“May pangamba hanggang sa huli, hanggang sa huling gabi bago ang paglaya, mahirap pa ring matulog. Pero nung lumabas kami, agad kaming nagpasalamat sa Diyos,” Lozada said.
Lozada rose to national prominence in 2008 after exposing alleged corruption in the multimillion-dollar National Broadband Network (NBN) deal between the Philippine government and Chinese firm ZTE Corporation.
His testimony implicated several high-ranking officials and sparked one of the biggest political scandals during the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Lozada brothers were convicted in 2022 for graft charges linked to a separate case involving the lease of public land during Jun Lozada’s tenure as president of the Philippine Forest Corporation.
The Sandiganbayan found that the lease agreement was disadvantageous to the government.
Serving 2 years, 11 months, and 7 days in the New Bilibid Prison, Lozada said he holds no ill will — not even toward Arroyo or other officials linked to the NBN-ZTE deal.
“Wala akong galit. Hindi naging fertile ground for anger ang puso ko,” said Lozada. “Mas pinili ko ang paninindigan sa katotohanan kaysa sa kapangyarihan.”
Following their conviction, the brothers were jailed in the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City to serve their sentences.
Despite his imprisonment, Jun Lozada has continued to receive public support, especially from anti-corruption advocates who consider his whistleblowing a courageous act in the fight for transparency and accountability in government.
Lozada said that prison life taught him humility and spirituality far deeper than any life of luxury or influence.
“Maraming aral ang naituro sa akin ng Bilibid na hindi ko matututunan sa karangyaan o sa kapangyarihan. Parang training ground siya para sa kababaang loob at pananampalataya,” he said.
He also spoke about his personal mission moving forward — healing, writing, and sharing his experience with others in the hope of helping those who are also going through their own spiritual and moral trials.
When asked what advice he would give to younger “truth-tellers” like “Alias Totoy,” who recently emerged as a whistleblower in a separate case, Lozada emphasized one thing: authenticity for life.
“Kaya mo bang panindigan ang katotohanan habambuhay? Kasi ’pag pinili mong hawakan ang katotohanan, hindi na puwedeng bitawan ‘yan. Buhay mo na ang nakataya,” he said.
He explained that the real test is not the first moment of truth-telling — it’s the lifetime of commitment that follows.
“Ang katotohanan parang sulo. Ikaw ang pumiling humawak diyan. Hindi ito dinuldol ng Diyos. Pero ‘pag hinawakan mo, responsibilidad mo na ito habang buhay,” he said.
MANILA (2ND UPDATE) — Jun Lozada, the whistleblower in the controversial NBN-ZTE broadband deal during the Arroyo administration, has been released from the New Bilibid Prison along with his brother, Jose Orlando Lozada, the Bureau of Corrections confirmed Thursday.
The bureau said the Lozada brothers were released on May 9, 2025, after serving the minimum period of their sentences.
Their release was granted following a parole recommendation by the Board of Pardons and Parole, which determined them to be eligible under existing guidelines.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News following his release on May 9, Lozada described his newfound freedom as “surreal”, comparing it to “a house you’ve prayed for, for so long, that has finally come.”
“May pangamba hanggang sa huli, hanggang sa huling gabi bago ang paglaya, mahirap pa ring matulog. Pero nung lumabas kami, agad kaming nagpasalamat sa Diyos,” Lozada said.
Lozada rose to national prominence in 2008 after exposing alleged corruption in the multimillion-dollar National Broadband Network (NBN) deal between the Philippine government and Chinese firm ZTE Corporation.
His testimony implicated several high-ranking officials and sparked one of the biggest political scandals during the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Lozada brothers were convicted in 2022 for graft charges linked to a separate case involving the lease of public land during Jun Lozada’s tenure as president of the Philippine Forest Corporation.
The Sandiganbayan found that the lease agreement was disadvantageous to the government.
Serving 2 years, 11 months, and 7 days in the New Bilibid Prison, Lozada said he holds no ill will — not even toward Arroyo or other officials linked to the NBN-ZTE deal.
“Wala akong galit. Hindi naging fertile ground for anger ang puso ko,” said Lozada. “Mas pinili ko ang paninindigan sa katotohanan kaysa sa kapangyarihan.”
Following their conviction, the brothers were jailed in the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City to serve their sentences.
Despite his imprisonment, Jun Lozada has continued to receive public support, especially from anti-corruption advocates who consider his whistleblowing a courageous act in the fight for transparency and accountability in government.
Lozada said that prison life taught him humility and spirituality far deeper than any life of luxury or influence.
“Maraming aral ang naituro sa akin ng Bilibid na hindi ko matututunan sa karangyaan o sa kapangyarihan. Parang training ground siya para sa kababaang loob at pananampalataya,” he said.
He also spoke about his personal mission moving forward — healing, writing, and sharing his experience with others in the hope of helping those who are also going through their own spiritual and moral trials.
When asked what advice he would give to younger “truth-tellers” like “Alias Totoy,” who recently emerged as a whistleblower in a separate case, Lozada emphasized one thing: authenticity for life.
“Kaya mo bang panindigan ang katotohanan habambuhay? Kasi ’pag pinili mong hawakan ang katotohanan, hindi na puwedeng bitawan ‘yan. Buhay mo na ang nakataya,” he said.
He explained that the real test is not the first moment of truth-telling — it’s the lifetime of commitment that follows.
“Ang katotohanan parang sulo. Ikaw ang pumiling humawak diyan. Hindi ito dinuldol ng Diyos. Pero ‘pag hinawakan mo, responsibilidad mo na ito habang buhay,” he said.
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