THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday hailed Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. for his decision to testify in the Senate’s investigation on the $329 million national broadband network (NBN) project despite tremendous pressure and death threats.

"The public confession may be considered a providential event that may yet save our country from being hostage to scandalous and shady government deals that offend the common good and serve only personal, family and group interests," said the statement signed by CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

"It was courageous to come out in the open to ‘publicly confess’ the high level of graft and corruption that they knew all along and ‘somehow’ have been involved in. But it was also damaging to their political career as well as to significant others who are in high governance. Truth hurts. Truth liberates. But the truth must be served. The truth will set our country free," it said.

The CBCP lamented the continuing corruption, saying it remains to be the greatest shame of Filipinos.

It called on the public as well as civil society groups to continue efforts to jump-start a moral revolution.

Last Friday, Lozada testified before the Senate probe on the scandal-ridden project between the Department of Transportation and Communication and Chinese firm ZTE Corp.

Lozada, who considers himself resigned as president of the state-owned Philippine Forest Corp. said former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo were behind the anomalous deal that was scrapped by President Arroyo after allegations of corruption.

Lozada also named Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and acting Higher Education chairman Romulo Neri as among those who have the knowledge of his "abduction" upon his arrival from Hong Kong in a bid to prevent him from testifying in the inquiry.

A group of health professionals hailed Lozada Jr. as a hero for spilling the beans on the multi-million dollar kickback on the NBN deal.

The Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) also called on President Arroyo to resign due to what it said was rampant corruption in her administration.

The HEAD has called on other professionals to come out and make a stand against the unbridled malfeasance in the government.

"Matapang sya. He is a hero and we support him," said Dr. Darby Santiago, HEAD vice chairman and spokesperson.

"How greedy some people can get. Sobrang kasakiman. We want the good people in the bureaucracy to come out and stand against corruption," Santiago said.

"The $197 million overprice in the $329 NBN-ZTE deal is already enough to cover the medical operation of 15,000 kidney transplant patients at P600,000 each and 49,000 open-heart surgeries costing at least P200,000 each," Santiago said.

"The cabal of Arroyo henchmen and cronies is running this country like a mafia, concocting white elephants at will if only to get hefty kickbacks. Their system of corruption has been institutionalized by Mrs. Arroyo herself, callously enriching herself while allowing public funds for social services to dwindle," they added. – Gerard Naval and Job Realubit