Palace fertilizer scam 'liaison' to face Senate

(Update) MANILA, Philippines - Alleged Malacañang liaison Jaime Paule will appear in the Senate on Tuesday, his counsel assured Blue Ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon Monday noon. Gordon said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio went to the Senate to convey the "good faith and readiness" of his client to appear in the next hearing set 11 a.m. on January 20, 2009. With the assurance of Paule's lawyer, Gordon said the Senate decided to lift the arrest warrant against him. The decision was made after Topacio met with Gordon, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and other senators Monday noon. "We will lift the arrest order but if Paule will not appear tomorrow we will let it remain," Gordon told reporters in a press conference. Despite this, the senator said he will continue with his plan to include Paule in the watchlist of the Bureau of Immigration and Immigration. The Blue Ribbon committee sent the letter to BID Commissioner Marcelino Libanan Monday afternoon. Topacio said Paule was staying in his house in Vermont Park, Antipolo City all the time that the Senate has been looking for him. He said Paule had wanted to attend the Monday's hearing but was scared that he might not be able to go home for the holidays after the members of the Senate sergeant at arms went to his home Sunday. "He asked to go here (in the Senate) and assure our senators that he does not intend to evade the subpoena and he wanted to participate in the hearing," Topacio said. Topacio said Paule was not able to attend earlier hearings because no lawyer wanted to take his case. He said he only met Paule Friday after their mutual friend advised Paule to go to him for legal assistance. To tell all? The lawyer said he believes Paule will tell what he knows and assured that they will be submitting to the committee a sworn statement even before the January 20 hearing. Shortly after the Monday's hearing ended, the committee received a letter from Topacio stating that Paule is "ready, willing and able to appear before the Blue Ribbon committee and give his testimony with respect to the matter of the present inquiry." "Our client believes that his reputation has been damaged and tainted because of the statements made before the present Senate inquiry," the letter read. The letter said Paule will voluntary present himself physically before the members of the committee. It added that Paule will not leave the country until after the inquiry is terminated. The letter said Paule is a legitimate businessman who has not been indicted for any criminal offense and is not in hiding. "He has been staying in the aforementioned address for five years and he has registration papers with the Land Transportation Office, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs," the letter read. Topacio was an assistant secretary for local government at the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the term of then Secretary Alfredo Lim. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV