Press Release
October 28, 2008

ROXAS SEEKS SENATE CAUCUS ON BOLANTE ACTION
ON FERTILIZER SCAM RESO PUSHED

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas on Tuesday pushed anew for the holding of a caucus among all senators to decide on convening the Senate committee of the whole to re-investigate the fertilizer fund scam.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, said the imminent arrest of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante requires immediate Senate action based on existing resolutions that authorize his detention.

He said the convening of the Senate committee of the whole will allow the chamber to resume its re-investigation into the P720-million fertilizer fund scam allegedly masterminded by Bolante to aid the election campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.

A warrant of arrest issued by the Senate food and agriculture committee in 2005 is set to be served by members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms against Bolante upon his arrival from the United States.

Roxas said senators have to discuss its legal defense for the enforcement of the warrant of arrest against the former agriculture official.

"Kinuwestiyon na ng abogado ni Joc-Joc sa Korte Suprema ang legalidad ng warrant of arrest na inilabas ng Senado laban sa kanya. Kailangang maging handa ang Senado para rito (The lawyer of Bolante has questioned the validity of the warrant of arrest before the Supreme Court. The Senate has to be prepared to defend its actions)," he said.

The Ilonggo senator also reiterated his appeal to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to file criminal charges against Bolante for his role in the fertilizer fund scam.

He expressed disgust that Gutierrez has sat on Bolante's case for mor� than two years after the Senate food and agriculture committee forwarded to the Ombudsman its recommendation that charges be filed against the former undersecretary and his cohorts.

"Kaya walang tiwala ang taumbayan sa gobyerno ay dahil sa mga kasong ganito (The reason why the public has lost trust in government is because of cases like this)," Roxas said.

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