BY ELLEN TORDESILLAS

ZTE star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. yesterday called on upright members of the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police to make a stand on the issue of corruption hounding the Arroyo administration.

In an interview at La Salle Greenhills, Lozada said the opposition should abandon its call for President Arroyo to resign. "She has to be ousted."

Lozada said given the arrogance of Arroyo and her officials, "people must really be prepared to bring this political crisis to a boil." He added that people should stop deluding themselves that she will resign.

"She will never resign because they have committed so many crimes that the only way to exit is when they are dead," he said.

He said when public outrage over disclosures of huge kickbacks by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and officials close to Malacañang in the NBN-ZTE deal were beginning to intensify, he overheard a Cabinet member saying, "Hindi natin ibibigay ito (the government) na walang patayan (we will not give this up without bloodshed)."

"That's why we have to appeal to the military and the police," he said.

Lozada said "the people are already stirring," noting that students and members of the religious, who in the past kept away from opposition rallies, are now out in the streets denouncing corruption and the use of repressive measures against critics of the Arroyo government. "It's time for the men in uniform to start their own discernment."

"Nakikita na nila (soldiers and policemen) na lahat ng powers of the state are being used against the citizens - wiretapping, kidnapping. Nakikita na nila na ginagamit na ito laban sa mamayan nila. Wala ba silang konsyensya?" he asked.

Addressing the men in uniform, Lozada said: "Sa mga mabubuting elemento ng military at police, we are putting you on notice."

In the "Mass for Truth" at his alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas, Lozada expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church, other religious groups and the public for their help and support.

He told a huge crowd that it is the pledge of support of religious groups and the public that makes him strong and encourages him to persevere in wanting to reveal the truth.

"Maraming salamat po sa simbahan! Salamat sa taong bayan! Mabuhay po tayong lahat."

It was a homecoming of sorts as Lozada graduated at UST in 1984 with a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering.

In attendance were Lozada's family led by his wife Violet, former President Corazon Aquino, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Mrs. Aquino appealed to Lozada, his family and to the public to muster enough patience in their fight versus the "evils" in the government.

"Ayaw ko po kayo i-discourage pero baka matatagalan pa po tayo dahil hindi pa po natin nagigising nang husto ang ating mga kababayan na nagtutulug-tulugan po ata at ayaw idilat ang kanilang mga mata sa katotohanan. Kanya lamang hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Kung yung diktador e napaluhod natin, siguro naman mas madadalian na tayo dahil wala tayong martial law ngayon... at sana huwag magkaroon ng martial law," she said.

She added, "Jun, konting tiis lamang, konting paghihirap. Siguro ikaw talaga ang napili upang madilat ang mga mata naming lahat kung ano talaga ang katotohanan. Kung hindi dahil sa'yo, ilan lang sa amin ang makakaalam kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan. Maraming salamat din Violet (Lozada), alam ko kung ano ang pinagdadaanan mo ngayon. Huwag kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Madami ang nananalangin sa iyo Jun at sa iyong pamilya."

The UST is among the universities that hosted a Mass for Lozada. The others are De La Salle, Ateneo de Manila, University of the Philippines, Adamson University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. - With Gerard Naval