Last Friday. I got this text from a friend: “NAIA manager Al Cusi, Dureza and Atty. Tony Zulueta here now in Manila Pen bar brainstorming on how to shield Jocko when he arrives. Pabalik na Jocjoc. Overheard sila by a friend. Media should be alerted.”
Dureza, of course, refers to Press Secretary Jesus Dureza and Zulueta is the lawyer of former Agriculture Secretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante.
The next day, I got another text from the same friend: “From embassy source:Jocjoc next week to be escorted by US Marshall. Jocjoc wife already here. Maybe media should start making noise to pre-empt government attempt to silence him.”
I asked Dureza what’s the arrangement for Bolante’s arrival telling him that he was spotted last Friday at the Manila Pen. His reply: “ Ha! Ha! Not me for sure. Was in mountain resort Wednesday pa. My daughter’s wedding Sat. Still here in Davao.”
Whether it was Dureza or not who was at the Pen last Friday, speculations about Bolante’s coming home has basis. The former agriculture secretary, known as one of the trusted cronies of Gloria Arroyo’s husband, Mike, reached the end of the road of his two-year legal battle to be released from prison and be allowed to stay in the U.S when the U.S. District Court in Wisconsin dismissed his petition last Sept. 3.citing lack of jurisdiction.
His deportation to the Philippines should be within 90 days from Sept. 3. That means, at the latest, Dec. 3, 2008.
Sen. Mar Roxas had earlier requested the United States to deport Bolante to Manila, and not Hongkong, the port of origin. It seems that the U.S authorities agreed with Roxas.
It should be recalled that the Senate, then headed by Franklin Drilon and Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. , then the chairman of the committee on agriculture, issued a warrant of arrest for Bolante to compel him to testify in the investigation, which in its conclusion, found him responsible for the diversion for Arroyo’s election campaign of the P728 million plus other funds totalling to almost P2 billion intended for farmers.
Bolante was arrested July 7, 2006 when he tried to enter the United States on an expired trader’s visa. Bolante, an official of Rotary International, was coming from Hongkong and was avoiding coming to the Philippines to evade the Senate investigation on the P728 million fertilizer fund that was diverted to the 2004 election elections campaign kitty of Gloria Arroyo.
The U.S court did not give weight to the claim of Bolante, who is currently detained at the Kenosha County Detention Center in Illinois, that he is a victim of “political persecution” and that there’s a $200,000 bounty for his head.
But I’m afraid, Bolante will have the last laugh. Just like former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, Arroyo’s 2004 election operator, he could be well-protected from the intrusive media when he comes back. With the government’s security force giving him protective cover, he can go home straight to his house in the upscale Ayala Alabang village. There is no court-issued warrant of arrest for him.
The Magsaysay committee has concluded its report and the new agriculture committee chairman, Sen. Edgardo Angara, a Malacañang ally, has no intention of re-opening the case. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, though, said he plans to summon Bolante in connection with the investigation on the fund anomalies in Quedancor. Bolante was a director of Land Bank from where Quedancor obtained billions of pesos in loans. A Vera Files report said Bolante was present in many of the Quedancor meetings.
Anti-graft crusading lawyer Frank Chavez has included Bolante in his suit filed at the Ombudsman on the fertilizer scam. But all cases pertaining to the agriculture anomalies including the one filed by the murdered journalist Marlene Esperat, is sleeping the sleep of the dead in the Ombudsman.
On the other hand, the Arroyo government has reasons to worry about Bolante’s return. Anybody who holds the truth about the shenanigans committed by Arroyo, her husband and other officials is a danger to her continued stay in power. The case of Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada is a good example.
Bolante has reasons to fear for his life when he returns here.
Bolante will be hidden by the Pidal Mafia just like the rest of the gang members. Two scenarios in his return: Either he will be well protected and fed or be eliminated.
But how Long their “protection” from prosecution will be? Sooner rather than later, GMA reign will be over, just like all the empresses and kings and Crimes if indeed had been committed have no statute of Limitations…just a reminder for those who’d rather pay the bills later than take their lumps NOW get it over with and Move On.
Joc joc has more reasons to worry than his former bosses at the palace. If he decides to part ways with them, he will be up against something sooo big with unlimited resources at it’s disposal which by now, no doubt are already in placed and ready in any worst case screnario. With all the informations about the anomalies of the 2004 elections still stored in his shell, gloria and her gang are well aware of the danger he poses against them and so by all means he should be taken care off, either way. And just like in the case of Lozada, the key here is the role of the media to play as a shield to JocJoc to keep him from harm’s way, but not in the way that it ended, as if nothing happened and still those leeeches are on the loose.
But before we go on speculating on what will happen, the question that no one knows the answer maybe even joc joc himself is will he rat on his bosses and turn patroit or he will do ala-Neri.
Where’s former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo? He was Joc-Joc Bolante’s boss when the P728 million fertilizer fund scam occurred. Joc-Joc could turn state witness against the Jose Pidal Mafia. Sana makonsenya.
The Supreme Court has cleared the late Marcos crony, Roberto Benedicto, of any criminal liability in the takeover of the ABS-CBN broadcast network during the martial law years, saying its owners, the Lopez family, had consented to the arrangement.
…The truth is, the Lopezes were in deep financial crisis during the time of Marcos. Aside from ABS-CBN, Meralco was bought by the government with the consent of the Lopezes. After Marcos was ousted, they began to play the a different story alleging that Marcos stole the Lopezes’ assets. So much was blamed on Marcos half of which was either not true or half truth. Then, Cory’s administration continued to be vindicative on the Marcos family instead of properly governing the country. The grand conspiracy in 1986 and the
power grab of Erap’s regime have contributed to the woes of the country today.
Over in more progressive countries like Japan, people like Dureza become legally responsible and are arrested and properly prosecuted when engaging in such activity as trying to silence a criminal to prevent him from squealing on their boss or bosses.
Hopefully, the US Marshall will make sure that justice is served by not delivering the creep to anyone connected with the criminals in the palace by the murky river but the authorities concerned in putting Bolante to prison for life for his crime of plunder.
Dureza and Bolante’s former lawyer should be subject to an investigation, but who will the police and justice department of the Philippines is under the control of a criminal hanging on tight at the palace by the murky river?
Kawawang Pilipinas! Here’s a quote for slow-poke Filipinos:
“The most commom way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any”: Alice Walker.
Speaking of Jun Lozada, sunud-sunod ang kasong sinampa laban sa kaniya to prevent and frighten him from standing witness against the criminals in the palace by the murky river. Buti na lang, the more they try his patience, the more he becomes bolder, brave and courageous now to fight the Pidals and the bad system for that matter.
For that, I give my full support to JLo. May God preserve him.
Is it 100% sure that Bolante will be deported to the Philippines and not to Hongkong? Baka kasi makahanap na naman ng butas si Bolante para makawala/magpatagal.
The GMA administration and its cabal have become experts in silencing people who may witness against them on their corrupt and evil ways. For sure there are now plans in place how to deal with the likes of jocjoc bolante. Its their corrupt money at work. What I don’t see are plans of the opposition how to go about getting the truth from jocjoc. Being that as the case, surely, jocjoc will run free.
And I might add Grizzy more charges like Harbouring a criminal and Accessories after the Facts, even a lawyer could easily be charged with these criminal offenses. These is to discourage the people with power and authorities to Abuse their power as it is very convenient for them to do so. We had seen many instances already.
I can’t wait to see the downfall of the Arroyo-Mafia. Nothing lasts. Their end will come at the right time.
ang KAKAPAL NG MUKHA ng mga taong eto na gumagawa ng kalokohan sa ating mga pilipino! pagrabe na ng pagrabe ang mga kalokohan ang nakikita at lumalabas sa gobyerno. agree ako na magkaron ng civil war sa atin maialis lang ang mga ganid at sakim sa ating gobyerno. kung ang civil war lang ang magiging paraan upang mapatino ang mamumuno sa atin ok na rin sa akin.
Nakakainip naman! Kailan kaya magwawagi ang katarungan? Kailan kaya mananaig ang tama? Kailan kaya magtatagumpay ang katotohanan? Kailan kaya mapaparusahan ang mga maysala?
Now, Now hear, hear. Secretary Puno had just invented another cover to cover another. First it was a Contingency fund, the lie was discovered, now it is “cash Advance”. Every one has to rush to make up the Paper works to cover this new-found lies. and others have to find more covers just in Case..
I am looking at a small side bet here that not a single hair from Joc jocss head will ever get close to a judge or senator for investigation or whatever nor will he ever get inside a detention cell here.
Valdemar,
Not fair, siguradong panalo ka na.
Nagpa-praktis na si Atutubo, lahat ng camera sa NAIA, sira na, si Sgt. Valero, na-recommission uli, si Col. Mascariñas, nagbabantay sa La Salle, umorder na agad ng steak at bumili ng maraming mineral water, pati signal scrambler ng cellphone, nakainstall na sa escort ng sasakyan ni Jocjoc. Samantalang yung asawa ni Joker Arroyo naghanda na ng affidavit na pipirmahan ni Jocjoc.
Nakapaghukay na rin siguro ng lupa sa Cavite na six-feet deep.
Now that everyone is waiting for Joc Joc’s return and face charges, the Ombudsman has not even filed any charge against him ever since he escaped to the US. Sen. Angara, now who heads the Committee replacing Jun Magsaysay, says he won’t pursue the case against Joc Joc because there are other more urgent cases to attend to. Bull Shit! Is more than P700M that went to GMA’s campaign election not worth investigated?
Etong si Angara, ang tagal na sa politica pero puntahan mo ang bayan niya, sira- sira ang mga kalye. Saan kaya napupunta ang pork barrel niya at ng mga anak niya. Kawawang Aurora. Mag hanap na kayo ng iba politico dyan. Hindi ko alam kung papaano pa na-nanalo sa eleksyon si E. Angara. Wala ka naman naririnig na ginagawa sa senado. Wala din charisma. Marami lang kilalalang mga sobrang yaman at mga ma-influensyang tao.
Part of Angara’s pork barrel goes to his best friend, Sen. Loren Legarda.
Before Marcos was in power there were 3 families namely, the Lopezes, Montelibanos, the Benedictos or they were known as the sugar block. Those 3 families would not have Marcos because the Visayans and the Ilocanos can not get along in business or otherwise. Here comes Roberto Benedicto who was the classmate of Marcos in U.P. So Roberto was instrumental in puting Marcos to power. Before Marcos was poor as a rat. He did not have anything to his name. I remember when he first came to the hacienda we kids decided to let him sleep in a cot bed outside so the mosquitos will eat him up. Luckily, he slept so well that he did’nt know there were mosquitos. Maybe his skin were so thick that no mosquitos will penetrate his skin. It was the idea of the Sugar block to give him more news coverage when they put him to power. You know media exposure. But Marcos never own any news media. So now, when Marcos became really powerful, he started to confiscate most of the businesses these people that supported him. Every bit of shenanigans that the Marcoses were doing is now replicated by Pandak, inch for inch and more. That is how she built her empire, by intimidation, suppression, thievery, confiscation, murder, what else? I wonder how she can meet her maker. And she is supposed to be a RC.
bitcheveil,
grabe ka naman maglantad ng katotohanan.
Contrary to what you alleged Dandaw, Marcos came from a prominent family. He was a successful lawyer. You might be referring to Imelda who came from a poor family.
No charge, no case, right? No evidence pati? Now these guys will really think they can get away with it. Tehankee, the police generals, JocJoc, its interesting what happens next…
Friends,they should know this: For what profit has a man, if he gets all the world with the loss of his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will give to every man the reward of his works. Mat 16:26-27
You’re right, BE. the Marcoses were not poor. The father was a prominent politician from my Mom’s province, and the mother was a teacher. This Dandaw must be thinking of the poor guy from Lubao, whose mother was a labandera so they say.
The Marcoses may not be as rich as the Lopezes, Zobels, et al, but they surely were not poor. Middle class maybe.
As for media exposure, he had plenty of that before 1966, especially when he won his case after getting his license to practice law passing the bar while in prison prior to WWII. He won in 1965 because of the publicity about him as a politician.
In fact, he would have been remembered as the only reelectetd president of the Philippines if he did not try to extend his stay in power. He should have cut short his second term as soon as he got seriously ill.
Still, it appears that he is less evil than the criminal now calling herself president.
Grizzy and Be, you as journalists you don’t write something that are not facts, right? So, why will I confuse facts from fiction. What benefit will it do me. I’m just a blogger. You knew what politicians are and what they stand for in Pinas. Marcos was not by any means rich to have mega businesses such as CBN-ABS and 199 more. If Marcos was a rich man he should have not salvaged a lot of people for his grandeur? Rich or poor if they are capable of doing bad things, they are all evil and should be condemned.
I don’t know about grizzy, but I’m not a journalist. I’m a simple blogger like the rest.
jocjoc bolante? di ba final na yung result ng senate investigation ni former senator jun magsaysay na may divertion of funds na nangyari, at yung pera ay dinala sa mga local politicos for campaign purposes..eh bakit hindi man lang nag request ang phil govt na kunin si jocjoc sa us thru extradition kung seryoso sila sa fight against corruption? at ang delaying tactics ng office of the ombudsman? and now they are preparing for jocjocs return for what? para maiayos ang lahat at baka nga pumiyok eh…
pero malabo sanggang dikit sila ni fg and alam niya mahirap kalaban ang mafia…
pero pasasaan ba lahat ng pagsisinungaling, pagtatakip at panlilinlang ay lalabas din…malabo na si jocjoc? o si gen. eliseo dela paz? o si gen. esperon? o sinumang kapanalig ni gloria na tinatablan na rin ng konsensiya.
di ba kayo nagtataka mga political appointees at cabinet secretaries ni gloria ay sila sila rin who belongs to the inner circle ng malacanang mafia at arroyo corrupt-poration? yung mga magagaling at matitino kung hindi umaalis ay inaalis sa puwesto…at walang matinong lider na gusto sumali sa kapamilya ni gloria.
jocjocs case is just one of mountain-piles of anomalies, scandals and corruption issues ng gloria regime at patuloy na dumadami pa kasi hinahayaan lang natin..after a month of tv,news and print hayun matatabunan na naman ng isa pang anomalya ng isa pang anomalya.
we should act together now, yung mga anak natin kaya pa nating buhayin at mabigyan ng magandang buhay inspite of economic and political turmoil pero paano na ang higit na maraming pilipino isang kahit isang tuka at sa ngayon sampung kahig isang tuka…at we cant sure na maganda future ng susunod na generation if we let the present cancer of corruption destroy our country our principles, and our childrens future…baka pati bangladesh ay maunahan na tayo in the near future with these kind of leaders and politicos.
mabuhay ka pilipino!
For as long as this most corrupt illegal president sits on her stolen throne, all illegal and corrupt deeds will go unpunished. Joc joc Bolante will enjoy the same freedom as Garci, “Lintang” Bedol, criminals and rapists who are prematurly released from prison. Add to the list, laundering generals like Garcia and now, if not caught, Dir de la Paz. How can a leader who commits anomalies almost on a daily basis punish those who commit lesser offenses than she has?
PSB,
Sabi daw, “Punishment will come in due time”. Hindi ko kayang maghintay ng ganoon katagal!
Due time is Judgment Day.
TT and BE, baka yung “due time” eh six feet under the ground na tayong lahat!