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CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City lawyers on Tuesday launched a fund drive “Piso Para sa Katotohanan” (Peso for Truth) in the wake of the corruption scandal over the ZTE deal.
The campaign of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter supports the Sanctuary Fund of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) for Rodolfo Lozada Jr., Senate witness on the ZTE National Broadband Network deal.
The Cebu fund drive is not just for Lozada but for all whistleblowers in search of the truth, said lawyer Briccio Joseph Boholst, IBP chapter president.
This will also encourage others who have knowledge of irregularities in government to come out in the open, he said.
IBP officers dropped peso coins in 3 large plastic jugs at the IBP building inside the Capitol compound.
More containers will be put up in university and college campuses in the city said IBP director Democrito Barcenas.
Donations will be turned over to the AMRSP Sanctuary Fund. Funds will be deposited in the MBTC bank account no. 3259-07445-3 under the account name AMRSP special fund.
Boholst said their efforts are not geared toward calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign but to press for the truth behind the NBN deal.
Barcenas, however, said that resolution passed by the IBP Cebu City Chapter under the presidency of Lawyer Alex Tolentino calling for President Arroyo to step down is not superseded.
The 17th IBP Board passed the resolution calling for Arroyo to step down after the “Hello Garci” scandal emerged.
Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia reaffirmed on Tuesday her support for the Arroyo administration.
Back from a weeklong official trip to South Korea, she said she has been consistent in her stand against calling people to march on the streets, a position similar to that of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
She said as early as February 13, the League of Provinces during its general assembly in Camarines Sur threw its support to President Arroyo.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also said he continues to support the President.
Although he did not receive an invitation to Malacañang for a social gathering of local executives on Monday, the mayor said he would attend if he was invited.
A nationwide gun ban took effect Monday amid tensions over calls for President Arroyo to resign.
In Lapu-Lapu City , two men were arrested for violating the gun ban.
Jason Pitogo, 25, of Barangay (village) Canjulao, and Orlando Sumalpong, 21, of Barangay Gun-ob were arrested in Lapu-Lapu City about 8 p.m. on Monday. Police seized a .45 caliber pistol, five bullets and a knife from the men.
The ban is in effect from 12 noon Monday until March 3. /Reporter Nilda L. Gallo with Reporter Doris C. Bongcac and Chief of Reporters Suzzane Salva-Alueta, Correspondents Chito O. Aragon and Rene F. Alima
