FORMER Planning Secretary Romulo Neri sought the help of Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. in raising "patriotic money" if he decides to testify at the Senate on the $329 million national broadband deal with ZTE Corp.

At yesterday’s Senate hearing, Lozada said Neri was contemplating on attending the inquiry but feared that "he would end up as a beggar."

"He was concerned na alam niya ang sasabihin niya ang ikakaalis niya sa gobyerno," Lozada said.

Lozada said that was when he thought of arranging a meeting between Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Neri.

Lacson said: "Kaya isinama ko si Sen. Jamby (Madrigal)."

The meeting, which was supposed to have never happened as claimed by Neri took place at the Asian Institute of Management hotel-residence last December 7.

Madrigal said it was the first time that she heard of the "patriotic money."

She clarified Lozada was not paid to testify in the Senate and most certainly she would not pay Neri to come to the Senate.

She said the Madrigals are "kuripot" (stingy).

Lozada turned over to the Blue Ribbon committee the P500,000 which he said was given to his brother for transmittal to him by deputy executive secretary Manuel Gaite for expenses while in Hong Kong. The money was contained in a brown envelope.

Cayetano noted there were 10 bundles of P500 bills. He presumed that each bundle had P50,000.

Lozada said the money was given to his brother during his third day in Hong Kong. Lozada left for Hong Kong last January 30.

He said he called up Neri and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to complain that he had no money to spend while in Hong Kong.

Lozada said the money remained intact because he decided to use his credit card.

Lozada said he originally planned to use the money to pay for his credit card bill but decided to turn it over to the Senate.

TEMPTING OFFER

Neri, in a press conference in Malacañang, said Lozada informed him about the "P20 million or more" offer of a rich family last November in exchange for doing the "patriotic" thing of resigning but he declined.

Neri denied knowledge of the P500,000 given to Lozada by Gaite.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said it is easy for Lozada to claim that he was given money, without even showing evidence to prove it.

AWAKENING

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said Lozada paved the way for the awakening of the Filipinos’ political conscience.

He said he hopes Lozada will continue to stand for the truth in a bid not only to reveal corruption in government but also to inspire others.

Lagdameo said the number and class of people in last Sunday’s mass in La Salle Greenhills was a strong manifestation of collective action in support of Lozada and the truth versus corruption in government. – Jp Lopez, Jocelyn Montemayor and Gerard Naval