Aytona now blames lawyer's illness for absence at Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines - After citing her high blood pressure for failure to attend the earlier Senate hearings on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, Maritess Aytona is now blaming her lawyer's health problems for her absence from Wednesday's Senate hearing. In a letter submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Aytona - alleged runner of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante - said she was ready to attend the hearing but her lawyer was brought to the hospital. The letter, dated December 9 but was received December 10, was addressed to Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee. "Nalaman ko po na naisugod siya sa St. Luke's Hospital noong Disyembre 6, 2008 dahil sa kanyang prostate at siya ngayon ay mayroong catheter (I learned that my lawyer was brought to the St Luke's Hospital last December 6 due to his prostate)," Aytona said. "Kulang na kulang po ang panahon para ako po ay makahanap ng bagong abugado na aking pagkakatiwalaan (There is no enough time for me to find a new lawyer whom I can trust)," Aytona added. Aytona then asked Gordon that she be excused from the hearing as she promised to be present in the following hearing, probably next week as she invoked her right to be assisted by a counsel. Following the receipt of aytona's letter, Gordon said the panel will no longer pursue the issuance of an arrest warrant against Aytona for her non-appearance in the hearing which the senator earlier described as a clear indication that she was avoiding giving her testimony at the hearing. "In spite of the arrest warrant issued by the Lower House and the Senate it is obvious she is in flight. She obviously tried to avoid being here," Gordon said. On the other hand, Gordon said he also asked the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to locate Jimmy Paule, a reported liason to Malacañang. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV