KIKO STRESSES VALIDITY OF WARRANT
OF ARREST VS JOCJOC BOLANTE

Senate Majority Leader and Committeee on Rules Chair Kiko Pangilinan today stressed that the Senate will not stop until it takes custody of embattled former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "JocJoc" Bolante, and gets him to explain the Fertilizer Scam.

"The basis of the contempt order and warrant of arrest is his refusal and failure to appear before the Senate Committee. The Senate, if it is to remain independent and truly able to exercise its constitutional duty to act as a check and as a balance, must be able to enforce its orders. Otherwise all that any Jose, Juan or Maria needs to do to render a valid arrest warrant void is to refuse to appear and to go into hiding," Kiko warned.

Bolante, who is said to have orchestrated the P728 million Fertilizer Scam, is due to arrive in Manila 11pm Tuesday. The Senate issued an arrest against him in 2005 for snubbing the Senate hearing on the controversy.

"It should be the positive and overt act of the Senate, and not the act of the individual, that would render an arrest warrant invalid. Until such an act is performed the warrant remains valid and enforceable anywhere in Philippine territory," Kiko added.

"No less than a sovereign nation like the United States has recognized the validity of the Senate arrest warrant. It arrested him and he went through deportation proceedings. The entire proceeding shall be completed by the Philippine Senate finally taking custody of Bolante," Kiko ended.