Press Release
November 28, 2008

Gordon warns Bolante anew on contempt order

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon expressed dismay over former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante's evasive answers to questions raised against him for his alleged involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

At the resumption of the Senate hearing today, Gordon was irked after Bolante repeatedly denied having more than 20 bank accounts despite the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) decision freezing those accounts.

"If you continue this line we'll have no choice we'll meet right away and we'll give you the reasons why we'll put you under arrest," he said.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Panfilo Lacson both maintained that they have records showing that Bolante had 23 and 37 bank accounts, respectively. But the former undersecretary insisted he only had four bank accounts, two of which are already inactive.

Gordon said having four bank accounts is already quite many for a person to obtain, much more to have 23 or 37.

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