Kiko urges church groups to create legal defense and protection fund for Lozada and family, urges lawyers to volunteer pro bono services

Press Release
By Office of Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan
February 9, 2008

“We will not allow harassment to get in the way of truth!” – Kiko

PASAY CITY, Philippines  –  With controversial NBN ZTE witness and Philippine Forrest Corp. president Jun Lozada’s explosive testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee  linking Malacañang directly to the anomalous deal, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan on Friday urged La Salle Brothers, other religious groups and people’s organizations now aiding Lozada to help establish a Legal Defense and Protection Fund.

“We urge concerned groups and individuals to come together and help put up a Legal Defense and Protection Fund for Lozada as we anticipate various forms of further intimidation to be thrown at him such as the filling of various cases against him. We know how financially draining this is, and the fund aims to ease this difficulty one way or another,” Kiko asserted.

“We cannot be mere spectators to this alarming issue. Lozada’s case is a danger sign to all of us, it tells us that this country has reached the situation where just about anyone can be kidnapped and terrorized in broad daylight, right before the eyes of the public and the media! It tells us that the truth in this country has become so costly that powerful forces are willing to commit illegal acts to stifle it,” Kiko lamented.

“We cannot allow foul play to obstruct the truth and justice. If we allow this to happen, the chilling effect would prevent would-be whistleblowers from coming forward. We will all turn a blind eye on the possible excesses in government, and before we know it, we would wake up chained and enslaved under a tyranny,” Kiko ended.