Doctors stand against corruption, hold GMA and cohorts accountable

Press Statement
10 February 2008

Doctors stand against corruption, hold GMA and cohorts accountable

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), together with concerned physicians and other allied health professionals today joins the growing public outcry against corruption and holds the Arroyo government fully accountable.

Despite the demolition efforts of Malacañang to destroy the credibility of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozano, a vital witness to the multi-million dollar National Broadband Network/NBN-ZTE scam, the Filipino people who stand for truth and accountability will be firmly on his side.

Mr. Lozano's continuing testimony on the greed-driven, corruption-tainted NBN-ZTE deal has underscored the involvement of First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, former Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos, Sr. and other high-ranking government officials who have transformed the national government into their own business venture through which they seek not only to profit but to profit handsomely.

The cabal of Arroyo henchmen and cronies is running this country like a Mafia, concocting white elephants at will if only to get hefty kickbacks. Their system of corruption has been institutionalized by Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, callously enriching herself while allowing public funds for social services to dwindle.

The US$197 million overprice in the $329 NBN-ZTE deal is already enough to cover the medical operation of 15,000 kidney transplant patients (at P600,000 each) and 49,000 open-heart surgeries (at least P200,000.00 each). Yet the amount is supposed to cover only the commission of Chairman Abalos for brokering the deal. The greed of one over the needs of thousands deserves nothing but the most hostile outrage.

HEAD also strongly condemns the abduction and mental torture experienced by Mr. Lozano at the hands of the Philippine National Police. Official kidnapping as a policy of the Arroyo administration demonstrates the extent of what the current dispensation is willing to do to cover-up its hideous acts of unbridled corruption.

HEAD calls on well-meaning government officials and civil servants, including the rank-and-file, to uphold integrity and professionalism above all. HEAD calls on them to follow the example set by Mr. Lozano and reveal what they know of other anomalous, graft-ridden deals that this government has entered into using the people's money as capital and the people's lives as collateral.

HEAD is resolved to arrest the sinister acts of the Arroyo regime. In whatever form of mass actions, the people must unite and gather its strength to punish the Arroyo government, which for the last seven years has undermined the people's interest, plundered the national coffers, and mortgaged the future of this nation.###


References:
Dr. Darby Santiago
Vice-Chair, 0917 477 9230

Dr. Geneve E. Rivera
Deputy Secretary-General, 0920 460 3712