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Tag: fertilizer scam

GMA’s second ascent

Photo from ABS-CBN

Gloria Arroyo – in a red- orange dress taking control of the situation at the Batasan Session Hall last Monday- was a personification of what German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche said,“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.”

It is shuddering to imagine what a re-invigorated GMA can and will do.

She stayed in Malacañang for ten years with a dubious mandate. A vice president in 2001, she grabbed power from then President Joseph Estrada by installing herself to the presidency that was not declared vacant. She cheated, using the Commission on Elections and the military, in the 2004 elections.

In the unforgettable words of Susan Roces, the widow of her victim, Fernando Poe, Jr: “… you have stolen the presidency, not once, but twice.”

Mercy, Abalos in a moro-moro

Malacañang is coming out with a masterpiece to divert attention from the unholy alliance between Gloria and Mike Arroyo and Merceditas Gutierrez, the Ombudsman.

A highly reliable source said anytime soon the Ombudsman will be filing a graft case with the Sandigan against Benjamin Abalos, the former chairman of the Commission on Election who was exposed to be brokering a $329.5 million national broadband network project for a Chinese firm, ZTE Corp.

Abalos is the subject of two complaints (filed separately by lawyers Ernesto Francisco and Harry Roque) before the Ombudsman in connection with ZTE deal for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Code of Conduct for Government officials. It will be recalled that Abalos offered then NEDA chief Romulo Neri P200 million to endorse the ZTE contract which was allegedly overpriced by P9 billion. The peso equivalent of the Abalos-packaged ZTE deal was P14.8 billion.

Joc-joc clears Gloria; senators dumbstruck

Download audio files of Nov. 13 Senate hearing
Download documents related to fertilizer fund scam

VERA FILES

by JP Lopez and Dennis Gadil
Malaya

The former agriculture undersecretary tagged as master architect in the illegal diversion of P728 million in fertilizer funds in 2004 yesterday cleared his “benefactor” President Arroyo.

But senators, both allies and critics of the President, were unconvinced about the claim of Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante, saying it is hard to accept that such huge amount would be released without presidential approval.

Rotarian tell Bolante: tell the truth

In many of the exhortations to former Agriculture Secretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante to tell the truth about the P728 million fertilizer scam, he is always reminded of the Rotary’s four way test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Many Rotarians are dismayed that the name of the prestigious organization has been dragged into this Bolante mess. As director of Rotary International, Bolante had used his official Rotary duties in evading Senate arrest.

Multuhin sana sila ni Marlene Esperat

marlene-esperat Ito ang nasabi ng abogadong si Harry Roque nang malaman niya na ibinasura ng Ombudsman ang kasong isinampa ni Marlene Esperat laban kina Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, dating Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, sa salang ilegal na paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.

Ito ang kasong kaugnay sa P728 milyon para sa abono ng mahihirap na magsasaka na ginamit para pambili ng boto para kay Gloria Arroyo noong eleksyon ng 2004.

Ang resolusyon ay inaprubahan ni Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro at Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr base sa rekomendasyon ni Director Elvira Chua ng Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Bureau ng Ombudsman.

Siyempre lahat yun aprubado ni Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez na kaklase at matalik na kaibigan ni Mike Arroyo.

Ombudsman junks Esperat case versus Bolante

Related article in Verafiles : Coverup, whitewash seen in Bolante case

by Johanna Camille Sisante
GMANews.TV

The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday junked the 2004 case filed by slain journalist Marlene Esperat against Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap, former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, and other officials over the illegal use of public funds.

In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, Anna Sanchez – media officer of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez – confirmed the ruling on Esperat’s complaint but did not disclose any further details, saying a press conference will be held Monday regarding the resolution.

Lawyer Harry Roque, who has made it a personal crusade to find truth and justice in the fertilizer scam, said: “I hope that Merceditas Gutierrez can explain that to the children of Marlene Esperat who all witnessed her gruesome murder.

Bolante forum-shopping

The son of an embattled agriculture official has asked the Court of Appeals to order his father’s immediate release from Senate custody.

Owen Vincent Bolante, son of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante said in a 15-page petition for habeas corpus, which he filed Monday that his father’s detention was unlawful and called for his immediate release.

Click here for the full Inquirer article:<

It’s obvious: Bolante evading to tell the truth

Atty. Harry L. Roque. Jr.
Chair, Center for International Law
Co-Convener, Concerned Citizens Movement

The petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, which was filed today on behalf of Mr. Jocelyn “Joc-Joc Bolante” by a son of his, is obvious proof that he does not plan on answering any of the public’s questions about the rotten multi-million peso fertilizer scam at the Department of Agriculture where he was once a well-placed official fixture.

Security ni Bolante ang nagpagulo sa airport

Ang Undas ay okasyon para natin gunitain ang ating mga mahal sa buhay na sumakabilang buhay na. Sa mga Kristiyano kasi naniniwala tayo na panibagong buhay pagkatapos ng ating buhay dito sa mundo.

Ang undas ay pagpa-alala rin sa atin na ang buhay natin dito sa mundo ay temporario lang. Dumadaan lang tayo. Lahat tayo ay mamamatay.

Paala-ala rin sa atin na walang kabuluhan ang pagnanakaw at panloloko ng kapwa tao dahil hindi natin madala ang mga kayamanan sa kabilang buhay.

Magmatyag, magbantay

Napuyat ako sa kakahintay kay Joc-Joc Bolante, ang matalik na kaibigan ni Mike Arroyo na dumating noong Martes ng gabi mula sa dalawang taong pagkakulong sa Estado Unidos.

Hindi na ako nakipagsiksikan sa loob ng NAIA dahil bawat media entity, isang reporter lang ang kailangan. May reporter naman kami doon sa loob, kaya doon ako sa mga concerned citizens na gustong hikayatin si Bolante na magsabi ng totoo.

Hindi namin nasilayan si Bolante dahil alam naman natin lahat na pagkatapos ma-turn over siya ng Bureau of Immigration at National Bureau of Invesitgation kay Senate Deputy Sergeant-at-arms Jaime Dimacale, isinakay siya sa naghihintay na ambulansya papuntang St. Luke’s Hospital.

Kanino natatakot si Bolante?


ABS-CBN photo of Bolante upon arrival at the NAIA1 Oct. 28, 2008

Click here for more of Bolante photos and ABS-CBN’s account of Bolante’s arrival

Click here for Inquirer’s account on Bolante’s arrival

GMA-7’s report

Maintriga ang mga tanong ng abogadong si Harry Roque kung bakit ayaw na ayaw ni Joc-joc Bolante, dating undersecretary ng agriculture, na umuwi dito sa Pilipinas.

Biruin mong minabuti niyang magpakulong sa Amerika kaysa umuwi dito sa Pilipinas samantalang kaibigan naman niya ang mga nakaupo sa Malacañang. Sabi ni Harry, na siya talagang nagpursige na maibalik si Bolante sito sa Pilipinas, kung tungkol sa paggamit ng P728 million sa kampanya ni Arroyo noong 2004 na eleksyon na dapat ay pambili ng abono na gagamiting ng mga magsasaka sa patanim ng palay, alam naman ng lahat yan.

Kung si dating Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano nga hindi nagalaw dahil sa lakas ng prutekta ng Malacañang, hindi ba kampante si Bolante na prutektahan din siya ng kanyang mga kaibigan sa Malacañang? Bakit takot siya umuwi dito? Kung hindi pa siya idiniport ng Amerika, ayqaw niya talaga bumalik sa Pilipinas.