Press Release
December 23, 2008

Senate blue ribbon panel suspends arrest order vs Paule

The Senate blue ribbon committee today suspended the arrest order against Jaime "Jimmy" Paule, who is being linked to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam by several witnesses, following his appearance and surrender to committee chair Independent Senator Richard J.. Gordon.

Gordon said Paule has surrendered himself to the Senate panel as he was already cornered by virtue of the arrest order, which was issued to him as he was cited in contempt for his failure to appear and testify in the committee's hearings.

"There is a suspension of the arrest order, subject to the condition that he arrives on Jan. 20. I have no reason to doubt that (he will attend the hearing) because his lawyer has said so," he said.

Gordon reminded Paule that he is not yet off-the-hook because he still has to come back to the Senate and testify before the committee when it resumes its probe into the multi-million fertilizer fund project on Jan. 20 next year.

Paule was cited in contempt, ordered arrested and detained by the blue ribbon panel for his continuous failure to appear and testify in the committee's hearings on Nov. 28, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, despite public announcements.

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