Lozada misses Cory Aquino in Navotas Mass

MANILA, Philippines - As he attended his first Mass for truth without her, ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr admitted feeling the absence of former President Corazon Aquino. Lozada made the admission as he attended the Mass at the San Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs parish in Navotas City Wednesday. "Sa tingin ko alam na niya maysakit siya, pero ako pa rin inaalala lagi mo palalakasin loob mo. For me there's really a lot of selfflessness on her part, dapat daw palakasin ko loob ko para sa pamilya ko at sa bayan (I think she knew she had cancer but she still showed concern for me and told me to be strong. For me that's a lot of selflessness on her part, to tell me to be strong for my family and for the nation)," Lozada told Q-11 television's Balitanghali newscast. Mrs Aquino started undergoing chemotherapy this week after her family disclosed she is suffering from colon cancer. After the Mass, Lozada reiterated his message to his audience not to let go of the issue of corruption surrounding the $329.48-million ZTE broadband deal mess. He also assailed the Supreme Court's ruling upholding executive privilege, saying it could extinguish hopes of getting to the truth of the mess. Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr, who officiated at the Mass, said Christ's resurrection should bring new hope amid problems facing the nation. Iñiguez said people must continue to speak out and fight poverty, injustice and corruption. Meanwhile, the Q-11 newscast said Mrs Aquino was heartened over the Mass organized by her friends and allies at the St. Scholastica's College in Manila Tuesday. Her spokeswoman Lourdes Siytangco said Mrs Aquino appreciated the gesture. Those who attended the Mass included Lozada, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and former Senate president Franklin Drilon. In the 1998 presidential elections, Mrs Aquino endorsed the candidacy of Lim. On the other hand, Drilon served as her executive secretary during her presidency. - GMANews.TV