Press Release
October 20, 2008

ROXAS TO GOV'T: BE OPEN TO PUBLIC ON DEPORTATION OF JOC-JOC

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said that the government must be open to the public about its plans for the deportation of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante, eyed as the mastermind in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam four years ago.

"Kailangang bukas sa publiko ang gobyerno tungkol sa deportation ni Joc-Joc Bolante mula sa Estados Unidos, at walang itinatagong plano upang iwasan ang pagharap niya sa hukuman (The government should be open to the public on the deportation of Joc-Joc Bolante from the United States, and there should be no hidden plans of keeping him from facing the courts)," he said.

Roxas noted reports that Bolante's deportation was imminent, and that there should be no hindrance to a case being filed against him.

"Malakas ang ebidensya laban kay Joc-Joc, at inaasahan nating lahat na may magaganap na kaso laban sa kanya, at kung maaari, mababalik sa atin ang pera na kinuha mula sa fertilizer fund (The evidence against Joc-Joc is strong, and we are all expecting that proceedings will push through against him, and if possible, that we get back the money taken from the fertilizer fund)," he added.

The Ilonggo senator once more questioned why the Office of the Ombudsman had not proceeded in its investigation against Bolante, even though the Senate had issued its recommendations for the filing of cases against him back in 2006.

"Hindi naman kailangang hintaying bumalik si Joc-Joc para pagsimulan ang pag-imbestiga ng Ombudsman sa kanya. Kailangang ipakita ng ating Ombudsman na hindi lang ito sumusunod sa utos ng Malakanyang (We don't have to wait for Joc-Joc to come back before the Ombudsman starts investigating him. The Ombudsman has to show that it isn't just following Malacañang's orders),"

Last month, Roxas had already written US Ambassador Kristie Kenney requesting assistance in the immediate deportation of Bolante once the US Court of Appeals 7th Circuit's decision denying Bolante's petition for asylum is made final.

The senator has also written other US agencies, namely, the Department of Agriculture, the US Agency for International Development, the Department of Treasury, among others, seeking assistance in locating and recovering the P728-million fund, which is believed to be have been deposited in accounts outside of the Philippines.

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