60% 0F PINOYS BELIEVE LOZADA TESTIMONY ON ZTE - SWS
MANILA, APRIL 29, 2008 (STAR) By Sheila Crisostomo - Sixty percent or three of every five Filipinos believed the testimony of whistle blower Rodolfo Lozada Jr. regarding anomalies in the national broadband network (NBN) project as well as government attempts at a cover-up.Results of the First Quarter Social Weather Stations survey released yesterday also showed that 54 percent of the respondents believed Lozada’s allegation that former elections chief Benjamin Abalos asked for $130 million from ZTE Corp. of China to facilitate the firm’s bagging of the NBN deal.
Malacañang, however, downplayed the results of the survey, which was conducted from March 28 to March 31.
“Majority believe Lozada’s statements on the ZTE,” SWS reported. The survey was conducted “using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.”
The survey also showed that 60 percent believe in Lozada’s statement that some government officials wanted him to go abroad so he could not testify at the Senate on the NBN issue.
Thirty percent “strongly believe” Lozada’s claim that he was “picked up against his will upon his arrival from Hong Kong by unknown men, and driven around for several hours to places he did not want to go” while 28 percent of respondents said they “somewhat believe” such claims. Thirty percent either “somewhat” or “strongly” do not believe the allegations.
Of the 54 percent who expressed belief in Lozada’s allegation against Abalos, 26 percent said they “strongly believe” him, and 28 percent claimed they “somewhat believe.”
The survey showed that the belief in Lozada’s statement that he was made to leave the country as part of a cover-up was highest in Metro Manila at 75 percent, followed by Mindanao at 58 percent. In the rest of Luzon and in the Visayas, 57 percent and 56 percent respectively believed in the statement.
“His statement that there was an attempt to abduct him upon his arrival from Hong Kong is believed by 76 percent in Metro Manila, 57 percent in Mindanao, 56 percent in Balance Luzon, and 49 percent in the Visayas,” the survey revealed.
Furthermore, belief in Lozada’s accusation against Abalos was highest in Metro Manila at 76 percent. In Mindanao, belief rating was 55 percent, while “balance Luzon” and the Visayas posted belief ratings of 50 percent and 48 percent, respectively.
The upper-middle class found Lozada credible in his statement that he was forced to go abroad while 61 and 51 percent of those in classes D and E believed him.
Deputy presidential spokespersons Lorelei Fajardo and Anthony Golez downplayed the survey results, saying public support for Lozada has been waning because of alleged inconsistencies in his allegations.
“The best test of the said survey is the waning and thinning support Mr. Lozada has been receiving in his alleged caravan for truth,” Fajardo said. She said the survey result was inconsistent with the realities on the ground.
Fajardo noted that even the influential clergymen are starting to see the inconsistencies in the “purported truth” of Lozada’s claims and that they are now questioning his character.
“As always contended, the surveys are a good baseline gauge but not the gospel truth,” she said.
Golez, for his part, said that perceptions should only be treated as such and that it’s the courts that should ultimately determine the veracity of Lozada’s allegations.
“The only way our country can find the objective truth is to put all these allegations to the test before our courts and rumormongers be cross-examined by seasoned and competent lawyers,” Golez said.
“We as a nation deserve to know the truth and therefore those who allege must bring this matter to the right forum,” he added. – with Marvin Sy
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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