Friday, January 05, 2007 Detained ex-agri exec tagged in lady journalist's slay
A LAWYER-professor at the state-run University of the Philippines (UP) said on Thursday that he will file charges against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-joc" Bolante in relation to the killing of a crusading journalist in Mindanao two years ago.
Lawyer Harry Roque told reporters at the Makati police headquarters where he formally filed a complaint against a person threatening him and his family with harm that the charges are related to the murder of Marlene Esperat, a journalist who exposed alleged scams at the agriculture department.
Esperat has filed graft cases against several agriculture officials, including the department secretary Arthur Yap and Bolante, over a P430 million worth of purchased fertilizers, which she said, did not pass standards.
Esperat was shot to death in front of her terrified children inside their residence at Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat in 2005.
"I am preparing the documents related to the filing of the case with the help of two groups, one of which is closely identified with the media," said the UP lawyer, adding that it is separate from the criminal charges filed against Bolante due to his alleged involvement in the disbursement of funds amounting to P728 million for the purchase of fertilizers prior to the 2004 elections.
Dubbed as the "fertilizer scam", the opposition and cause-oriented groups said the fund ended up in the campaign chest of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who denied the allegation.
He said the case would be filed in a court at the US where Bolante is detained since the middle of last year after being arrested due to an expired visa.
Regarding the death threats he received from a certain "Jun Santos" Roque said it would not prevent him from doing his duties.
He said he would not ask for security escorts from the police as he said he trusts God to take care of him.
Roque believes that the threats could be related to the high-profile cases he is currently handling.
Makati City Police Director Gilbert Cruz said they are now investigating the complaint and the identity of the caller although he believes that "Jun Santos" is most probably an alias.
"We will conduct an investigation to determine the identity of the caller though chances are he is using an assumed name," said Cruz.
He said Roque has not asked for security escorts but if one is needed, the lawyer should ask the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO} at Camp Crame, which provides escorts to politicians, government officials and prominent personalities with valid threats to their lives.
A professor of international law at the UP Institute of International Legal Studies, Roque served as the counsel in the multimillion-peso class suit filed by journalists and media entities who are facing libel charges from First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo at the Makati City Prosecutor's Office.
He is also a member of the legal team helping the 23-year-old Filipino complainant in the controversial rape case against a US serviceman.
He has also filed an amicus brief before a US court opposing the asylum claim of Bolante. (AH/Sunnex)
