Sunday, September 03, 2006
Bolante files bail; lawyer blocks move
MANILA -- First, he spurned the Philippine Government's involvement in his immigration case.
Then, while in detention, he asked the government for humanitarian assistance.
Now, former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-joc" Bolante, alleged architect of the P728 million fertilizer fund anomaly, has reportedly applied for bail so that he could temporarily be freed from a detention facility in Wisconsin, USA.
Lawyer Harry Roque, who led a group of lawyers in blocking Bolante's bid for political asylum in the US, said the former government executive's motion for bail will be heard on Sept. 13, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Basement of 500 Jackson, Chicago, Illinois.
A fugitive from the Philippine Senate, Bolante has been detained since June 5, 2006 at the Kenosha Rehabilitation Center in Wisconsin, about an hour and half from Chicago, when he attempted to enter the US without a valid tourist/business visa.
Roque said Bolante's latest request was just another excuse to be transferred to a hospital, rather than in jail where he is "co-mingling with common criminals."
He said his group has sent a courier to Karen Lundgren, chief counsel of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security, an authenticated copy of the Senate report on the fertilizer scam, a copy of the report of the Commission on Audit, the Senate's warrant of arrest and the copies of the criminal complaints filed against him by former solicitor general Francisco Chavez.
Lundgren's office represents the US government and acts as oppositor to whatever relief Bolante may ask.
"To help frustrate his effort to secure his provisional liberty, we have today sent by courier to Ms. Lundgren, through Ms. Mary Carmen Madrid-Crost. Even if Joc-joc's motion for bail is granted, Ms. Lundgren's office could still appeal such an order and consequently, he would still be detained pending such an appeal," Roque added.
Despite the provision of consular assistance to him, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to collude with Bolante to keep details behind his apprehension a secret from the Filipino people, Roque further said.
"This collusion should now end since not only is Bolante's continued evasion of the wheels of justice a matter of public interest, the provision of consular services to him now means that public funds are now being spent on him. To date, Joc-joc has insisting on closed door proceedings for his 'master calendar hearing' because this is where he will publicly ask for his relief," the lawyer said.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Jr., meanwhile, said government will not likely provide bail for Bolante should he request for one.
"I don't think that is a condition that he can impose. We have nothing to do with his plight, so we are not obligated," he said.
He said any Filipino in distress abroad is entitled to humanitarian assistance from government but not to the extent of putting up bail, except on certain cases wherein government has to come up with blood money to spare the life of an overseas worker.
"But he is not an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). He did not even inform us that he was in Korea or in the US. If his rights are being violated, we will raise that as an issue. But if he wants bail, we won't go that far," Gonzalez said. (Sunnex)
(September 3, 2006 issue)
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