ROXAS ASKS US GOV'T TO DEPORT JOC-JOC STRAIGHT TO RP AFTER FINAL RULING OF US COURTS ON PLEA TO ASYLUM

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today (Friday) asked the United States government through US Ambassador Kristie Kenney to deport former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante back to the Philippines once US courts rule with finality to deny his application for asylum there.

"Hindi ako payag na makalusot pa si Joc-Joc Bolante kapag maging pinal na ang desisyon ng korte sa Amerika na hindi siya puwedeng bigyan ng asylum. Kailangang dito siya dalhin sa Pilipinas para harapin niya ang mga paratang laban sa kanya kaugnay ng fertilizer scam," he said.

"Kailangang ipakita natin sa lahat na seryoso tayo sa pag-alis ng mga anomalya sa gobyerno. Paanong maniniwala ang taumbayan na kaya nating lipulin ang katiwalian kung panay palusot na lang ang lagi nating nakikita? Nawawalan na ng kumpiyansa ang taumbayan sa pamahalaan," he said.

In his letter to the US Ambassador, Roxas said the gravity of the allegations against Bolante for his involvement in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004 underlie the importance of his deportation back to the Philippines to face the bar of justice. He also noted that the Senate has a standing arrest order for the alleged mastermind of the scandal due to contempt of the Senate for his repeated non-appearance in its hearings on the issue.

The US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has denied the application for asylum to the US of Bolante. Roxas said that Bolante reportedly plans to appeal his petition for asylum before the US Supreme Court.

"He should be made accountable for his alleged mismanagement and misuse of DA's funds not only before the Senate but also before the proper judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative bodies," he wrote in his letter to Kenney.

"Kapag sa Hong Kong pa iyan dumiretso ay baka makalusot pa si Joc-Joc. At siguradong walang magiging katapusan ang iskandalong ito. Hindi mabibigyang hustisya ang mga inosenteng magsasaka," he stressed.

Roxas also lamented that despite the vast evidence and information gathered by the Senate, the government anti-corruption body has yet to file a case against Bolante. "Bakit hanggang ngayon ay parang bahag ang buntot ng Ombudsman sa pagsampa ng mga kaso laban kay Bolante sa korte?" he said.