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Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada shall be a redeemed man, no matter how late a man turns to the light of good, that is enough for his redemption. The only criteria in my strong opinion is that of his sincerity for the act and not because he was caught. It is human to be remorseful for being caught, it is another thing to be remorseful for having done the deed itself.

A saint he is not, nor has he done a service to the country except for this one instant, which may very well be one of the biggest turning point in this Administration, the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Lozada is redeemed, he is the star witness to a crime of which is just one of many we probably know of.

But he shall not be the hero that everyone makes him out to be. He is not the just and righteous man for this act of courage we see before our very own eyes. He is only a man that is finally doing his duty as a public official, and now as a citizen (he resigned only a few days ago).

But if we Filipinos see Lozada as a hero, as someone truly exceptional, it just shows the sad state of public opinion that has befallen our government and public officials. The truly courageous and righteous public official is the official at even a hint of wrongdoing, graft, or corruptive act, instantly reports the wrongdoing and does all he can not to participate. Even one centavo going to something other than public service is one centavo too many.

Just imagine, how many public officials think this way, and add that up, and you will suddenly realize why we are lagging in almost every sector in our poverty-stricken Republic.

He is no hero, he is a public official that has finally done what he was supposed to be doing from day one.

Harsh criticism I know, but if we are to move forward from such scandals, the paradigm of graft and corruption and illegalities must be shifted, not only from the very big projects, but to the P100 taken out of petty cash for personal use. For a poor country like ours, every centavo counts, and for our graft ridden country, those illegal withdrawals are costing us billions upon billions, and lives upon lives.

I’m tired, we’re all tired, it’s time to clean up the act. I’m glad Lozada is testifying. I feel for his pain, but such is the price to pay. The road of the just is rarely ever easy. But for the sake of our nation, let’s pray that Lozada is strengthened anew, stands the rigor of testimony, for which this imperfect hero of ours will finally have closure for the years he participated in moderating the greed.

tags: arroyo administration, nbn deal, paradigm shift, Rodolfo Jun Lozada