Bolante detention is Senate prerogative - solon

MANILA, Philippines - House agriculture committee chair Abraham Kahlil Mitra on Thursday said he does not see how the Senate's detention of Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante will make the former Agriculture undersecretary spill the beans on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. Mitra, however, said he respects the senators' decision to arrest and detain Bolante anew for his "continuous contradictions" and "string of lies" in the fertilizer fund scandal probe. "It's their prerogative. I respect the senators' decision. Although I don't know how they can make Bolante tell the truth, just by arresting him," he said in a text message. Mitra is the head of the committee that conducts the fertilizer fund scam investigation in the lower House. "On the part of the House of Representatives, we will remain devoted in our task to find the truth behind this alleged fertilizer scam. I don't see any problem that will come out of the Senate's move. I believe we are on the same page with regards to this issue. We're both seeking answers to a four-year-long saga," he added. Bolante, the alleged architect of the scam, was arrested Wednesday night and arrived at the Senate about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, where he was brought immediately to the chamber's clinic. Earlier during the day, Bolante's lawyer Alexis Abastillas Suarez said they will challenge before "a proper forum" the former Agriculture undersecretary's arrest by the Senate. In an interview on dzBB radio, Suarez said they will file a petition questioning the grounds of the arrest warrant against Bolante. She, however, did not mention where the plea will be filed. "Kinukuwestiyon namin yung validity ng arrest. Ginagawa namin yung petition, sa proper forum namin ifa-file. Hopefully magawa namin within the day (We are questioning the validity of his arrest. We are crafting our petition to be filed to the proper forum and hopefully, we can finish it within the day)," Suarez said, lamenting that the Senate is treating Bolante as an "accused" and instead of a "resource speaker." - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV