MANILA, May 8, 2009 - Now that Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada is under the Senate custody again, the money raised for his supposed bail bond will be donated to other inmates in need.
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) said a total of P10,000 was raised in less than a week after the fund drive was launched.
"The AMRSP was able to raise P10,000. I just don't know with the other groups (who also raised fund for Lozada), said AMRSP chairperson Sr. Mary John Mananzan.
The AMRSP, the Black and White Movement, and other civil society groups started early this week a campaign to raise P6,000 bail for Lozada.
"We know that the bail is an affordable amount, but what we really want is to involve the people in this issue because it seems Jun is alone fighting for the cause of whistleblowers and in the crusade for truth," Black and White spokesperson Leah Navarro said earlier.
Mananzan said that Lozada met some inmates involved in petty crimes, when he was detained at the Manila Police District Jail, seeking for release but have no money to post bail.
But Mananzan said the fund will be given to some beneficiaries on a case-to-case basis.
"I don't want (the money to be donated to) someone who hurt his wife or those who are involved in crimes like the trade of illegal drugs," she said.
Lozada is currently confined at the Manila Medical Center, where he was rushed Tuesday night due to difficulty in breathing. The whistleblower of the national broadband network (NBN) scandal has asthma.
Mananzan said that from the hospital, Lozada will return to the Brother's House inside the De La Salle University Campus in Greenhills, San Juan City, under the protection of the La Salle Brothers and AMRSP.
Lozada was arrested last week based on an arrest warrant issued by Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 26 Judge Emmanuel Lorredo.
Lorredo initially dismissed the perjury case filed by former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, but was forced to order Lozada's arrest after his ruling was reversed by the Manila Regional Trial Court. (CBCPNews)