RP consulate confirms arrest of Joc-joc Bolante at LA airport

Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante, the purported architect of the P728-million fertilizer and pesticide scam, has been detained in the United States by airport authorities in Los Angeles, for using a cancelled visa. Helen Barber, deputy consul general of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles, confirmed on Wednesday that Bolante had been detained by US Immigration atuthorities, because B1B2 visa had been cancelled, upon his arrival at the Los Angeles airport. Foreign Affairs Spokesman Gilbert Asuque told reporters that Bolante was arrested last July 7 by US Immigration officials, upon arrival at Los Angeles from Seoul, South Korea, aboard Asiana Airlines. Bolante is presently being detained at the San Pedro detention center in Los Angeles, Asuque said. US authorities will start hearing Bolante's immigration case on Thursday (Manila time). The story on Bolante's detention was disclosed earlier on Wednesday by DZBB journalist-anchor Arnold Clavio, citing sources who said Bolante had sought the assistance of Palace officials at around 11 p.m. Tuesday Philippine time. Bolante purportedly requested Malacañang's help in securing his $100,000 bond that he needs to pay for temporary release. DZBB said Bolante is currently at a detention center after he was taken into custody by immigration agents upon his entry at the Los Angeles International Airport. Bolante left for the United States on December 11, 2005 in an apparent bid to evade investigation by the Philippine Senate into the allegedly irregular disbursement of the P728-million fertilizer fund to political allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the campaign for the May 2004 presidential elections. Bolante, a close associate of First Gentleman Juan Miguel Arroyo, had claimed that he had to travel to the US to carry out his functions as director of Rotary International. Acting Philippine Ambassador to Washington Willy Gaa has reportedly been assigned to assist the former agriculture undersecretary. Bolante's son had left for the US to assist his fatrher, according to sources. Asuque told GMANews.TV that they will promptly call up Gaa to confirm if the latter had indeed been asked to assist Bolante. The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., had earlier issued a warrant of arrest for Bolante, and cited him in contempt, following his repeated refusal to heed Senate summonses to attend public hearings on the alleged diversion of the P728-million fertilizer fund. The committee finished its investigation and recommended charges of perjury, graft and malversation of public funds against Bolante and three other DA officials. Bolante had questioned the Senate's authority to issue a warrant of arrest, in a 28-page motion he filed last January with the Supreme Court. The Senate panel had named Bolante as "chief agro-theft" and "mastermind" of the misappropriation, diversion of funds, malversation of public funds and the "raids of the farmers' money." Too, the Senate report maintained that President Arroyo must be held "accountable" for the mismanagement of the fertilizer fund. Opposition leaders have alleged that the President had conspired with Bolante to siphon the DA's money into her war chest for the 2004 national elections.-GMANews.TV Pls see related stories: GMANews.TV: Senate holds Arroyo accountable for fertilizer fund scam PCIJ: Billions in Farm Funds Used for Arroyo Campaign Senate committee report (March 8, 2006) on fertilizer scam