Press Release
December 21, 2008

ROXAS TWITS BOLANTE: STOP COVERING UP FOR FERTILIZER SCAM

With his lies being debunked by expert witnesses and documentation, former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante should now stop covering up for his and his bosses' role and complicity in the P728 million fertilizer funds suspected to have been diverted to 2004 campaign kitty of President Arroyo and her allies, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said.

"Sumisikip na ang mundo para kay Joc-Joc. Dumarami na ang ebidensiya na inimbento niya lang ang kuwento niya sa Senado. Kung ako sa kanya, magsasabi na ako ng totoo at sasabihin ko na ang alam niya sa scam na ito (Joc-Joc's options are getting fewer. Evidence is piling up that he is just inventing his alibi in the Senate. If I was Joc-Joc, I'd tell the truth now admit everything he knows about this scam)," he said.

He said it would be Joc-Joc's Christmas gift not only to himself and his family but to the entire nation if he becomes truthful, admit the irregularities in the fertilizer program and spill the "real" brains behind it.

"Magiging malungkot ang Pasko niya dahil nandiyan ang takot at konsensiya na bumabagabag sa puso niya. Mabuting magsabi na siya ng totoo ngayong Lunes nang sa gayon ay maging mas makahulugan ang selebrasyon niya at ng kanyang pamilya (His Christmas will be sad because he has fear and guilt in his heart. It is better to tell the truth during the hearing on Monday so he can have a more meaningful celebration of the Holidays with his family)," he also said.

The Ilonggo senator warned the former agriculture undersecretary could be arrested and detained anew at the Senate if he continues to be elusive and if he sticks to his fabricated story.

"Hindi magdadalawang-isip ang komite na i-cite muli in contempt si Joc-Joc at ipahuli at ipakulong dito sa Senado kung patuloy pa rin siyang magsisinungaling (The committee will not hesitate to cite him in contempt again and order his arrest and detention at the Senate if he continues to be elusive and to tell us lies)," he said.

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon has called for another hearing Monday on the multi-million fertilizer fund diversion anomaly following the surrender last Thursday of alleged Bolante "runner" Maritess Aytona.

Another committee witness, Jose Barredo, had testified it was Aytona who reported directly to Bolante. Aytona and Barredo were supposedly used by Bolante as "conduits" for recipients of the fertilizer funds and Feshan Philippines , a company that manufactures and distributes liquid fertilizers used for organic plants.

News Latest News Feed