Monday, October 27, 2008
Lawyer: Arrest Bolante (3:21 p.m.)
MANILA -- A civil society lawyer said the basis for the arrest warrant of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante issued by the Senate is still valid.
Lawyer Harry Roque said the arrest warrant issued against Bolante for snubbing a Senate inquiry on the P728-million "fertilizer scam" he allegedly engineered should immediately be served upon the latter's expected arrival on Tuesday so he could shed light on the "unfinished investigation."
Earlier, Senate President Manuel Villar expressed doubt that the arrest order against the controversial former agriculture official can be served.
Another Senator, Pia Cayetano, who serves as the Senate-officer-in-charge, said she is carefully studying the legal issues regarding the issuance of the new warrant of arrest or whether the previous arrest order against Bolante remains valid.
Still, another Senator, Edgardo Angara said there is no more need for the Senate to reopen its investigation on the fertilizer scam. (AH/Sunnex) |
