Friday, September 05, 2008 Gov't unfazed by Bolante's return
PRESS Secretary Jesus Dureza said Malacañang has nothing to fear or worry about the return of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, the alleged architect in the P728 million fertilizer controversy.
Dureza branded as speculation any fears that Bolante might be abducted on his return similar to what happened to Senate witness on national broadband network deal Rodolfo Lozada Jr.
"Government entertains no fear. Government is not something that can be threatened and your assumptions are very speculative. With due respects, you are haunted by the Lozada incident," he told Palace reporters in a press briefing.
He added that Bolante is a private person and "where he will go home, is not our concern."
"Jocjoc Bolante is now a private citizen already and so when he comes here, the legal processes will take over," he said.
He also said that it would be up to the Senate if they want to continue their investigations into the fertilizer scam.
Bolante is still in the US waiting for the final verdict on his plea for political asylum.
He was arrested and detained in the US for having a revoked visa. The US government ordered his deportation, but he asked for political asylum.
Aside from the fertilizer scandal, the Senate is also looking into the involvement of the former agriculture official in the swine scam. (JMR/Sunnex)
