Press Release
November 3, 2008

ROXAS DARES JOC-JOC TO FACE SENATE EX-DA EXEC FORUM SHOPPING

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas on Monday dared former DA Undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante to stop forum shopping and face the Senate instead of hiding behind legal technicalities.

"Hindi siya nakalusot sa Amerika dahil mahusay ang sistema ng korte doon. Kaya gusto natin na magpakita na si Bolante sa Senado para 'di na siya makalusot pa (America's competent court system did not let Bolante get away. We want Bolante to appear before the Senate so he would not be able to evade the truth anymore)," Roxas said.

On Monday, Bolante's lawyer filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus with the Court of Appeals seeking to compel the Senate to immediately release Bolante from the custody of the chamber, insisting that the warrant of arrest against him was already void.

His lawyer had earlier asked the Supreme Court to stop the Senate from enforcing the 2005 warrant of arrest against him allegedly because it was no longer valid as it was issued by the previous Congress.

Roxas also urged the Senate leadership to make up its mind and take a definite stand on re-opening the investigation on the Bolante case.

The Liberal Party president favors re-opening the probe and has filed a resolution convening the Senate as a Committee of the Whole to investigate the diversion of the P728-milion fertilizer fund into President Arroyo's campaign in 2004.

"Mas makakabuti na malaman na nang taumbayan kung talagang seryoso ang liderato ng Senado na imbestigahan si Bolante (It would be better if the people would know how serious the Senate leadership is in investigating Bolante)," he said.

Roxas reiterated his appeal for a caucus of all senators to discuss how the Senate would proceed with its re-investigation of the P728 million fertilizer fund scandal.

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