MANILA, Philippines - Stage and film actor Fernando Josef has resigned as vice president and artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines after the CCP board voted to deny the request of a group of artists to stage a concert to raise funds for the ?sanctuary fund? of national broadband network (NBN) corruption scandal witness Rodolfo ?Jun? Lozada.

Josef said he had supported the proposal of the artists? group in the name of artistic freedom.

He added he is also ?Lozada?s friend.?

But what made him resign was not the CCP board?s decision, which he said he ?totally respects,? but because a board member ?attacked Lozada? after the vote was made March 11.

?I don?t think it is proper to criticize someone whose life is obviously in danger,? Josef said.

He added that artists were trying to raise money for Lozada?s sanctuary fund because he and his family faced threats for telling what he knew about the $329 million controversy.

Josef explained he decided to resign as ?a public apology? for Lozada from ?an artist and a cultural worker.?

Josef refused to name the board member who attacked Lozada.

The CCP board is chaired by Emily Abrera. Members are Nestor Jardin (who is also president), Behn Cervantes, Lorna Kapunan, Jaime Laya, Martin Lopez, Teresita Luz, Ruperto Nicdao, Zenaida Tantoco, Nestor Torre Jr. and Isabel Caro Wilson.

Laya was not present during the controversial board meeting.

Established in 1989, the CCP is a performing arts venue attached to the Office of the President and under the umbrella of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Its board members are all appointed by the President.

Lozada?s friend

Josef said he was a friend of Lozada. In fact, he said he was among those who waited for Lozada at the Manila airport for his arrival from Hong Kong on Feb. 5.

Josef added he was among those whom Lozada frantically called through mobile SMS when he was picked up by men who turned out to be police operatives sent by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

Lozada has since called the incident an abduction, saying the administration tried to stop him from testifying in the Senate inquiry on the NBN scandal involving multimillion-dollar commission allegedly being demanded by then Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos, reportedly with the blessings of the President?s husband, Mike Arroyo.

The government has denied the charges.

Josef said he frantically texted back Lozada for his whereabouts, but did not get any reply until many hours later when Lozada had apparently found refuge in Catholic nuns and brothers who shielded him from government operatives.

?He texted ?I?m okay na,?? Josef said. ??Please tell Violet and my family I?m okay. I?ve decided to do the right thing.??

Josef said he had thought Lozada would commit suicide until the witness asked him later to organize the press conference on the early morning of Feb. 7. Facing the press finally, Lozada tearfully recounted his ordeal when he returned from Hong Kong and finally blew the whistle on the NBN case.

Sincere and honest

Josef said he first met Lozada in his capacity as CCP official looking for ways to provide housing and livelihood assistance for artists and cultural workers.

He said Lozada, who was then the president of the Philippine Forest Corp., had thought of converting idle lands into artists? colony.

?I was impressed with his honesty and desire to help the people,? Josef said. ?I was struck by his sincerity in getting rid of corruption. Even then, Jun was complaining that greed and corruption were anti-poor, anti-Filipino.?

He said last December Lozada had confessed to him he was getting threats because of his role in the NBN case. (Lozada, an Electronic and Communications Engineering graduate from UST, was dragged into the case after then National Economic Development Authority director-general Romulo Neri asked him to check the technical side of the NBN deal and reportedly instructed him to ?moderate the greed? of those who wanted fat kickbacks from the transaction.)

He added Lozada was showing him the threats he was receiving through SMS; one of them read, in Filipino, ?Don?t testify. We know where you and your family go for Sunday Mass.?

He said that Lozada even texted him from Hong Kong, confessing he was struggling with his conscience. Josef added that he knew that even then Lozada had wanted to tell the truth.

He said Lozada told him, ?I can?t accept in good conscience that I remain silent.?

Josef said he was happy he had resigned. ?I can?t be free if I?m part of the establishment,? he told the Inquirer.

He said he was now circulating a manifesto for signing by artists and cultural workers. The title of the statement is ?Ibalik ang Totoo! (Restore the Truth).?