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Saturday, July 15, 2006
Agri chief mum on Bolante's arrest
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
AGRICULTURE Secretary Domingo Panganiban opted Thursday not to comment on the arrest of "controversial" former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante in the United States.
Panganiban, who was in Bacolod Thursday as guest speaker in the opening ceremony of the three-day 1st Negros Organik Festival said, "I don't want to comment on Mr. Bolante's arrest. I know that he's man enough to face whatever charges he is facing now."
Bolante was arrested on July 7 by the United States immigration authorities due to a visa-related case, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Wednesday.
DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) immediately informed the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, California by phone on the day Bolante was arrested.
Bolante is the former undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture who is accused of "masterminding" the controversial P728 million fertilizer scam.
The said amount was reportedly taken from the DA's "Gininutuang Masaganang Ani" (GMA) program and was reportedly given to some congressmen, governors and mayors who delivered votes for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the May 10, 2004 national and local elections.
But Panganiban believes Bolante's arrest or the fertilizer scam can't rocked his department.
He also said only a proper investigation, particularly by the Senate, can put things in its proper perspective.
In Western Visayas, among those who were accused of receiving alleged "kickback" funds from this include Bacolod Representative Monico "Newks" Puentevella, former Iloilo 2nd District Representative Oscar Garin, Governors Vicente Bermejo (Capiz), Florencio Miraflores (Aklan), Edgar Espinosa (Guimaras) and mayors Reymar Rebaldo (Kalibo, Aklan), Oscar Garin Jr. (Guimbal, Iloilo), Alex Centeno of (Calinog, Iloilo), Mariano Malones (Maasin,Iloilo) Ignacio Ramirez (Lambunao, Iloilo) and Carminia Bascon (Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental).
According to "whistle blower" Jose Barredo Jr. of President Roxas town in Capiz and runner for Feshan Philippines Inc., dealer of liquid fertilizer, those allegedly involved in the scam received kickbacks.
For Puentevella alone, Barredo told the Senate probe last February that the Bacolod solon received 25 to 30 percent of his P5 million share of the multi-million-peso fertilizer fund.
Barredo said Puentevella only gave 25 percent of his P5-million allocation for the purchase of liquid fertilizer.
Puentevella, however, denied the accusation and even dared Barredo to face him at any forum as he is willing to clear himself on the charges.
Puentevella cannot be reached for comment last night about Bolante's arrest in the US.
The fertilizer scam is now being investigated by the Senate committee on food and agriculture.
Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. now heads the probe.
Magsaysay together with House Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel and the rest of the opposition lawmakers believe that with Bolante's arrest can clear the issues hounding the fertilizer mess.
In October last year, Bolante was slapped with contempt after ignoring Senate hearings on the anomalous disbursement of public funds.
Instead, he flew to the US on December 12, the day when the Senate conducted its fifth hearing on the fertilizer issue.
In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government would extend assistance to Bolante but it would not include paying the US$100,000 bond imposed by the US court for his temporary liberty.
But Ermita said he has yet to receive report on Bolante's arrest but the government does not intend to lift a finger to assist him, particularly in paying the bond.
He said any assistance that would be extended to Bolante would be similar to the type of aid that they give to ordinary Filipino citizens.
He said it is the duty of the Philippine consulate to see to the condition and needs of Filipinos abroad.
Asked if Malacañang is worried or even bothered that the Senate might revive its investigations on the fertilizer fund issue now that Bolante is arrested, Ermita said he sees no reason why they should be bothered.
Meanwhile, Magsaysay on Wednesday expressed concern that some groups will do anything to prevent the extradition of Bolante from the US.
"There are powerful personalities that will see to it that he would not come back," Magsaysay added, saying that these groups know their problem when Mr. Bolante started to talk, they might be dragged in the issue.
Magsaysay said he will send a letter to the US Immigration Authority to secure Bolante.
The senator will also ask the US Government to extradite Bolante to face his plunder case with the Office of the Ombudsman. He believed that the extradition of Bolante will happen in a month since the former agriculture official still has to face his charges in the US.
Magsaysay urged the Ombudsman to act on the plunder case against Bolante, Lorenzo and other DA officials that the Senate recommended last March.
"They (Ombudsman officials) have been sitting down on the charges, they're not doing anything," he added.(With reports from Sunnex)
(July 14, 2006 issue)
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