Bolante's wife allowed to spend night in Senate

MANILA, Philippines - Carol Bolante, wife of embattled former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc" Bolante, could spend the night with his husband inside the Senate detention room if she wants to. In an interview with reporters Thursday, Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr said Senator Richard Gordon has allowed conjugal visit for Bolante. Gordon is the chairman of the blue ribbon committee which is currently investigating the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, of which Mr Bolante is accused of masterminding in 2004. As of posting time, Mrs Bolante is still with his husband inside the detention room. She arrived at the Senate premises past 10 in the morning Thursday. Balajadia said Bolante requested privacy during the visit. "Special request nila to be left alone. No media shots, no interviews. That's how private they want to be right now. They want complete privacy," the chief Senate security official said. Balajadia added that Bolante and his wife do not want to be seen on television and on the newspapers. Asked about Bolante's condition in detention, Balajadia said the former agriculture official is "OK and quite bubbly." He said Bolante is taking his situation lightly. "He (Bolante) would like to take it easily. He is bubbly but not really joking. He could converse. He can make tete-a-tete," Balajadia said. He added that there was no television inside Bolante's room and that he brought his own pillow and blanket. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV