Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada (right) sits beside former President Corazon Aquino during the “Mass for Truth and Accountability” held at Baclaran Church on February 25, 2008, days after Lozada surfaced as a key witness in the NBN-ZTE broadband scandal. — Photo credit: Handtell via Wikimedia Commons
MANILA — The whistleblower who exposed the alleged corruption behind the canceled $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband deal is speaking out after serving nearly three years in prison for a separate graft case. Now a free man, Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. says his time behind bars became a period of personal reflection and religious transformation.
“I asked God, ‘Why?’ hundreds of times,” Lozada shared in a recent interview with PhilStar Life. “But eventually, I learned to surrender. I found purpose even in prison.”
Lozada rose to national prominence in 2008 when he testified before the Senate about alleged irregularities in the National Broadband Network (NBN) deal between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE Corporation. Then serving as president of the Philippine Forest Corporation and adviser to NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri, Lozada claimed the project’s cost had been inflated to accommodate alleged kickbacks.
His testimony identified high-ranking figures, including then-COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos and then-First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, as having been involved in or aware of questionable negotiations. Under mounting public pressure, the Arroyo administration canceled the deal in late 2007.
Following his disappearance upon returning from Hong Kong and subsequent reappearance, Lozada testified that he had been taken by state security agents. His statements triggered a Senate investigation and widespread media attention.
Timeline: The NBN-ZTE deal and aftermath
- March 2007 – Philippine government approves $329M broadband deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
- August 2007 – Allegations of bribery surface; Senate begins probe.
- September 2007 – ZTE contract suspended.
- October 2007 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cancels the deal.
- February 2008 – Jun Lozada testifies, alleging corruption and high-level interference.
- 2008–2010 – Senate hearings lead to resignation of COMELEC Chair Benjamin Abalos.
- 2011–2014 – Charges filed against some officials, but no convictions were secured.
- 2021 – Supreme Court upholds Lozada’s separate graft conviction over a 2007 land lease deal at PhilForest.
- 2022–2025 – Lozada serves sentence at New Bilibid Prison, released in July 2025.
To date, no final criminal conviction has been issued against any major political figure in connection with the NBN-ZTE scandal.
In a separate case, Lozada was convicted of graft over the 2007 lease of government land to his brother while serving as president of PhilForest. The Sandiganbayan ruled that the lease violated procurement rules. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2021, and Lozada surrendered to authorities in June 2022.
He and his brother were sentenced to six to ten years in prison and were committed to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. They were released on July 9, 2025, after serving two years, eleven months, and seven days.
Lozada said he spent the early days of his imprisonment grappling with confusion and frustration. Assigned as a “bosyo” or orderkeeper in the Reception and Diagnostic Center, he later transitioned to the minimum-security compound, where he facilitated Bible study and assisted other inmates with literacy classes.
He also gave lectures on the writings of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, integrating historical lessons with religious themes.
“Prison became a place of refinement. I was being prepared for something greater,” he said.
Upon release, Lozada was met by family and supporters. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) confirmed that he and his brother had completed their minimum sentence and were eligible for release under the law.
Now 61, Lozada credits his survival in prison to his renewed spiritual faith and support from loved ones.
“I’m no longer afraid of the people I once faced in court. What more can they take?” he said. “I went to prison with nothing. I left with faith.”
When asked whether the sacrifices he made were worth it, Lozada said: “Yes. We only have one life. What better way to live it than by loving others and standing for the truth?”
The NBN-ZTE exposé remains one of the most widely publicized alleged corruption cases in recent Philippine history, drawing attention to procurement transparency and oversight in government technology projects.
Advocacy groups have pointed to Lozada’s case as an example of the potential risks faced by whistleblowers and the need for stronger legal protections for those who report misconduct in government.
