Who Is Jun Lozada? NBN-ZTE Whistleblower Freed from Prison with Brother

MANILA – Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr., a well-known whistleblower in the 2007 NBN-ZTE corruption scandal, has been released from prison along with his brother, Jose Orlando Lozada, after completing the minimum sentence required for parole eligibility, according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The two brothers were freed from the national penitentiary on May 9, 2025, a development Lozada described as “surreal” in an interview with ANC on Thursday.

“That’s how it feels when something you’ve been praying for finally happens,” Lozada said, expressing relief and disbelief.

Who is Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada?

Lozada is a former president and CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC) and an IT expert. He became a national figure in 2008 after exposing alleged bribery and cost-padding in the controversial $329 million NBN-ZTE deal between the Philippine government under then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and China’s ZTE Corporation.

The NBN-ZTE project was supposed to establish a nationwide broadband network connecting government offices. Instead, it turned into one of the country’s biggest corruption scandals, with Lozada’s testimony serving as a key factor in public outrage and multiple investigations.

Graft Conviction and Imprisonment

In 2016, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division found both Rodolfo and his brother Orlando guilty of graft. The charges stemmed from Rodolfo awarding a lease contract for 6.5 hectares of public land under PFC’s Lupang Hinirang Program to his brother without following due process.

Their conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2021, which denied their petition for review. They were sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Release from Detention

The BuCor confirmed their May 9 release, stating the brothers had served the minimum required sentence to qualify for parole. Lozada said he was only informed of the decision a few days in advance, making the moment all the more emotional.

No Regrets

Despite his time behind bars, Lozada has previously stated that he has no regrets about exposing corruption at the highest levels of government. In a 2023 interview, he said he stood by his decision to tell the truth, even if it came at great personal cost.