Sunday, November 09, 2008 Fertilizer scam probe set By Jill Beltran
THE Senate will start its inquiry into the fertilizer scam on Thursday, said Senator Francis Escudero.
Escudero, during Saturday's Kapihan sa Sulo press forum, said if the schedule would not push through due to some "technicalities," they would do their best to set up the fertilizer scam probe soon.
Former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, the alleged architect of the scam, will surely testify in the hearing, he said.
The lawmaker cited technicalities that will prevent the Senate from conducting the investigation like "rule of committee," "conflicting committee reports," and "constitutional and legal issues" as there is a pending case in the court regarding the scam.
"If the bill crafted and passed by the Senate can be amended and repealed by the succeeding Senate, how much more the investigation in the committee report that can't be completed without the testimony of Mr. Bolante," he stressed.
He added that since Bolante was absent at their last committee hearing, the impending Senate probe would give him opportunity to air his side.
Escudero said they would consider the health of Bolante in looking into the case. The former agriculture official is still confined at St. Luke's Medical Center since his arrival from the US.
Dr. Romeo Saavedra, the attending physician of Bolante, noted the hardening of blood vessels in Bolante's heart, as well as his significant weight loss.
"The warrant of arrest against Mr. Bolante is only to make sure that he would attend the hearing. He would not be jailed for any wrongdoing or any violation of the law because only the Office of the Ombudsman can do that," explained Escudero.
When asked what if St. Luke's has connived with Bolante in prolonging his stay in the hospital, the senator said: "Every hospital has self-regulatory mechanism in connection with that."
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