Press Release
December 7, 2008

'Be not afraid to be honest' - Gordon

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today reminded those invited to attend tomorrow's Senate hearing about the virtue of honesty as they testify about their knowledge - and participation - into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Gordon issued the reminder as the Senate blue ribbon he chairs resumes its investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund scam where its alleged chief architect, former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, is under contempt.

"Our parents taught us about the virtue of honesty. I think this should remind us again that we have to be honest at all times. As we always say: Let us be honest even if others will not, even if others cannot, even if others do not," he said.

Subpoenaed to tomorrow's hearing are Julie Gregorio and Reden Antolin, president and vice president of Feshan Philippines , respectively, and Leonicia Marco-Llarena whom Jose Barredo implicated as the financier of Maritess Aytona, Bolante's alleged runner.

Aytona was also subpoenaed to appear, along with a certain Jimmy Paule, whom Barredo also named as an alleged financier of a fertilizer distributor. The Senate sergeant-at-arms is still locating Aytona's and Paule's whereabouts.

Other resource persons invited are the DA regional directors and Vicente Aquino, executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

The Senate blue ribbon committee sees a better chance of extracting the truth behind the P728-million fertilizer fund scam either from those who participated or from those who have direct knowledge of the anomalous deal.

With more witnesses involved in the planning and implementation of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Farm Inputs-Farm Implements program now coming out, Gordon said it is just a matter of time that the complete truth will be established soon.

"If all the key witnesses would show up, we will be able to establish the complete truth. There might be arguments and contradictory statements, but we'll see who's telling the truth and who's just spinning tales," he added.

Gordon also admonished Bolante against hiding the truth, otherwise he will continue to be under detention at the Senate for his evasiveness and false testimony during the past hearings.

The blue ribbon chair added that only when Bolante speaks of the truth, or when a case had been filed against him at the Office of the Ombudsman or the justice department for False Testimony, will he be freed from detention.

"We only want to hear the truth from Mr. Bolante because he has been telling all these lies before our noses. His time in detention at the Senate might give him time to think clearly and decide to spill out the truth," Gordon said.

"If he still refuses to tell the truth, then he would remain in detention. But we have other witnesses who know the truth. We just hope they would not be afraid to speak and instead, they will follow the dictates of their conscience," he added.

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