Someone out to 'silence' me, Bolante 'runner' tells Senate

MANILA, Philippines - The brother of Maritess Aytona, the alleged runner of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc" Bolante, on Wednesday night turned up at the Senate to report an alleged slay try on his sister. Ramon Aytona told Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon that they were on their way to attend the committee's hearing on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in the Senate when a motorcycle-riding man blocked their path and pointed a gun at his sister. He said the incident occurred at about 11:20 a.m. on Calamba Street in Biak na Bato, Sto Domingo village in Quezon City, adding he was able to shake off the supposed assailant by making a U-turn. Maritess was seated in the front seat of their Toyota Avanza, he said, while another sibling, Eduardo, was in the backseat. Ramon went to the Senate hours after an arrest warrant was issued against his sister and two others for their failure to attend the fertilizer fund scam hearings despite summons. The other two were Jaime Paule, an alleged Malacañang liaison, and Julie Gregorio, president of Feshan Philippines Corp., the distributor of fertilizers in the alleged scam. In her letter to Gordon, Maritess said the incident reminded her of slain journalist Marlene Esperat, whose murder in 2005 was reportedly linked to the fertilizer fund scam. "Ang matindi pong pagtatangka sa aking buhay ang dahilan upang hindi po ako makadalo sa nasabing pagdinig. Sa aking kaalaman may mga tao na pong napatay dahil sa kasong ito ay lalong nagpadagdag s aking takot," Maritess' letter read. ("The threat against my life was the reason why I wasn't able to attend today's hearing. The fact that someone was reportedly killed because of this case only adds up to my fear.") The fertilizer fund scam refers to the P728 million budget for the government's fertilizer project that were allegedly diverted to President Arroyo's campaign kitty during the 2004 presidential elections. Bolante is being accused of masterminding the said scam - an accusation he repeatedly denied in past Senate hearings. Ramon said they immediately went to the La Loma Police Station to report the incident, then to Chinese General Hospital in Manila because her sister was hysterical. He said they entered the hospital at about 12:30 p.m. but left after a couple of minutes. Ramon said his sister is now in a safehouse. Gordon, for his part, said he would take the information "at face value" and withheld any judgment until he personally sees Maritess. "I’m still not buying it until I see her. I’m willing to see her anytime," Gordon said. Senate sources said Aytona is set to meet with Gordon Thursday morning. Also ordered arrested by the Senate was Reden Antolin, vice-presidet of Feshan Philippines Corp. He was accused of allegedly giving false and evasive testimonies in the committee hearing. Gordon said the arrest warrant is to force the four to appear in the next hearing set on January 20 at 10 in the morning. He said if the four would be arrested during the break of the Congress session, they will be brought to the Pasay City jail. - with Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV