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CBCP head to lawmakers: Try harder in grilling Bolante


MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not impressed with the way lawmakers have been grilling former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante over the P728-million fertilizer fund scam so far. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that CBCP president Angel Lagdameo said the results of the ongoing investigation had so far been "disappointing." "I can sense the feeling of many people is one of disappointment as the truth was not served, or the truth did not come out as expected," Lagdameo said at the sidelines of a forum on corruption and governance in Iloilo City. Lagdameo said more effort should be made for the truth to come out. "The search for truth goes on. Graft and corruption characterizes many dealings of government," he said. He noted senators investigating the alleged scam have repeatedly threatened to cite Bolante in contempt for allegedly not telling the truth. The fertilizer scam was among the issues discussed during the forum organized by the Alliance for Truth, Transparency, Justice and Accountability, Institute for Good Governance and People Empowerment and the Western Visayas Ecumenical Council. Earlier, Lagdameo and several other bishops issued a statement on worsening graft and corruption, which they said is "the biggest culprit and major cause of our nation's poverty and hunger." Lagdameo also said government employees and officials should be reminded to be honest in service. "I'm appealing to all responsible people to be true in their service of the government to put uppermost ...the good of the country," he said. Lagdameo said that if graft and corruption could be minimized by even just half, more people will be fed and more students can enter college. - GMANews.TV
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