DepEd chief says Lozada may now speak at schools, but ...

MANILA, Philippines - After getting flak for banning ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr from appearing at public schools, Education Sec. Jesli Lapus on Friday blinked on his "guidelines" saying Lozada can now visit schools under several conditions. Lapus, who supervises public elementary and high schools, said Lozada may now speak before students during graduation rites, so long as he does not incite the students to go against the government and does not create controversy. "Pwede sa graduation, kung di siya mag-incite or mag-create ng controversy. Alam natin pakay niya mag-incite ng ano. Ang paghahanap ng katotohanan di tayo nakakasiguro sino totoo sino hindi (Lozada can guest at graduation rites, so long as he does not incite or create controversy. We know he is trying to incite something. And we cannot be sure that his search for truth is the right one)," Lapus said in an interview on dzRH radio. He also insisted there is no particular "guideline" targeting Lozada in particular, saying the guidelines against politics in graduation rites had been in place for several years. "Wala tayong tinutukoy na particular na tao. Meron tayong existing guidelines sa graduation rites. Dapat gawing solemn, di larangan ng controversial forum sa pulitika (We are not targeting anyone, we have guidelines to ensure graduation rites are solemn and do not become a controversial forum for politicking)," he said. Lozada earlier complained that the ban on him was just part of an ongoing government move to harass him, after he surfaced and linked First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and resigned Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos in irregularities in the $329.48-million ZTE deal. Despite the ban, Lozada said is still planning to push through with his campus tour in the provinces. Abalos is also planning a similar campus tour. In the interview, Lapus admitted he could not do anything about other politicians who guest at graduation rites, especially if they happen to be patrons or sponsors of the school. "Mga political leaders, yan ang takbuhan ng iskwelahan sa educational fund, patron yan (Those political leaders were approached for funding. They are patrons)," he said. - GMANews.TV