Press Release
October 24, 2008

Villar: Bolante should voluntarily surrender and explain himself

Senate President Manny Villar today urged former Agriculture Usec. Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante to voluntarily submit himself to authorities and not wait anymore for the arrest warrant to reach him upon his return to the country.

Villar issued this statement in reaction to the news of the impending deportation of Bolante from the United States .

"Bolante should explain his role in the disbursement of the P728 fertilizer fund. He should also explain why he left the country and absconded at the time of the inquiry. There are lingering questions on the public's mind and if indeed he is innocent as he claims, he should see this as an opportunity to clear his name," Villar said.

"His return to the Philippines is a significant development in the pursuit of truth on the multi-million fertilizer fund scam," he added.

However, Villar said the decision to resume public hearings on the matter "rests on the realm of discretion of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Blue Ribbon committee." He added that he will be willing to call an all senators' caucus to get a consensus on the resumption of the hearings.

"The Senate is standing by its committee report of March 2006, which recommends, among others, the filing of administrative cases against Bolante and the Department of Agriculture officials involved in this controversy," he said.

The Nacionalista Party president also urged the Office of the Ombudsman with which the report is given, "to immediately inform the Senate of its action on the recommendations of the Senate with regards to the fertilizer scam."

"We only want to get to the bottom of the case and find out where the money went. At issue here are the twin principles of accountability and transparency. If a crime or wrongdoing has been committed, then there should be appropriate sanctions," he said.

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