Press Release
December 6, 2008

Contempt vs Bolante remains fully enforced - Gordon

The Senate's move to punish for contempt former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante for his evasive and false testimony remains fully enforced, Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today said.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, issued the statement in reaction to Bolante's petition for a writ of habeas corpus his lawyers filed before the Supreme Court last Friday.

"The Senate's contempt order against Mr. Bolante is deemed necessary and indispensable in the discharge of its legitimate duties. Right now, it continues unaffected and remains fully enforced," he added.

At least 13 senators led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile have overwhelmingly signed the contempt order against Mr. Bolante, ordering his immediate arrest and detention in the Senate premises.

Gordon explained that the Senate, an independent and co-equal branch of the government, is empowered by the Constitution to maintain and dispense unhampered and unimpaired its powers to enable it to discharge its responsibilities.

"It is however well within the Senate's right and duty to maintain and dispense unimpaired its legislative and oversight powers necessary to enable us to discharge the responsibilities imposed upon us, vested in, and permitted not only by our rules but also by our Constitution," he said.

The senator pointed out that this constitutional authority is the Senate's basis in citing Bolante, alleged brain of the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, for contempt and ordering his arrest for his evasiveness and false testimonies in the past three hearings of the committee.

"This dictum has therefore guided the 13 senators led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to punish for contempt Mr. Bolante for his glaring evasive answers and false testimony during past three hearings of the Senate blue ribbon committee," he said.

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