MANILA - One of the whistleblowers in the botched national broadband network (NBN) deal between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE Corp. is angry at the investigation report released by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday.

Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr., who has been described as the “crying” whistleblower due to his emotional narration of events related to the scrapped NBN-ZTE deal, was initially happy when he learned that President Arroyo and First Gentleman (FG) Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo were mentioned in the report.

But this was immediately replaced by anger when he was able to read the full report. (Read: Blue Ribbon Committee recommendation)

He said the First Couple were indeed linked to the scandal but only “shallow” accusations were given.

“Buti kung hindi ko pinagdaanan iyong muntik na nila akong mapatay doon nang dinukot nila ako sir! Buti kung hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinag-usapan ni [former National Economic Development Authority or NEDA chief Romulo] Romy Neri at ni Gloria Arroyo, di ba? Buti kung hindi ko alam na si Abalos ay si FG ang kanyang kausap dito. Alam ko lahat ang mga maniobra ng adminnistrasyong Arroyo dito eh,” said Lozada.

It has been more than 2 years since Lozada has been staying away from his home and with a religious order.

He said his frustration at the investigation’s report grew when he learned that the portion on him in the report was much longer than that of the First Couple.

“Parang ako pa iyong in-imbestigahan. Ang dami kong detalyadong kaso pero si GMA at saka si FG mukhang pagpapaliwanagin lang bakit nakipag-golf sa China,” said Lozada.

Meanwhile Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, in a statement, said he believes the Blue Ribbon Committee report linked everyone allegedly involved in the controversy “in order to initiate a comprehensive adjudication by the appropriate government body.”

Remonde said however that the report only said that President Arroyo “has a lot to answer for.” He said no details on Mrs. Arroyo’s alleged wrongdoing in the scandal was cited.

He also defended the president on the report’s statement that: “She kept her silence in the midst of the corruption – acquiescing and condoning the deed.”

“But the history of this issue does show that the President did in fact cancel this transaction.
In addition, DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] Secretary Ronaldo Puno, at the height of the controversy, was in fact directed by the President to order the PNP to investigate the allegations leveled against certain government officials. That investigation was duly conducted, and the findings reported back to the President were ‘inconclusive,’” said Remonde.

The camp of Mr. Arroyo meanwhile believes that the First Gentleman has already been absolved in the controversy.

Mr. Arroyo's personal lawyer, Ruy Rondain, said: "There is a case pending at the Ombudsman which found no evidence vs Atty Arroyo beyond speculations and conjectures. Based on all the evidence presented, including the entire Senate transcript, the Ombudsman also found that the President is immune [from suit]. Motions for reconsideration are pending. Let's allow the Ombudsman to finish her job."

Another whistleblower in the controversy, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III meanwhile believes that Gordon may have been pressured to release the report.

“Kung ilalabas niya iyong version na sinabi ko at kinoroborrate naman ng ibang witnesses na si Mike Arroyo at sila Abalos ang mga may kasalanan diyan ay magagalit naman sa kanya ang Malacañaang,” said the son of the former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

Lozada meanwhile said he wants to protest the results of the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation, but he still does not know how.

“Gusto ko nang pagsisihan itong ginawa ko…. Hindi ko malaman kung paano ang gagawin, ang alam ko lang ang taong bayan dapat manindigan sa katotohanan,” said Lozada, again in tears. From a report of Henry Omaga-Diaz, ABS-CBN News