Bolante breaks silence on blue ribbon report

MANILA, Philippines - Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-joc" Bolante on Sunday branded as “baseless" the report of the Senate blue ribbon committee on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. Interviewed by radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo, Bolante said the report principally crafted by committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon has no sufficient evidence to substantiate the accusation hurled against him. Bolante was among the personalities recommended to face a string of charges by the committee in connection with the alleged diversion of fertilizer funds to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s campaign kitty in 2004. "Ito [report] po ay walang sapat na ebidensya at batayan. As a matter of fact, 'yung ni-review po ng abogado at masusing binasa at in-evaluate. Ang report po ay walang ebidensya. Listahan lamang ng mga accusation," Bolante, the alleged mastermind in the scam, said. [“The report has no sufficient evidence and basis. As a matter of fact, my lawyer reviewed at re-evaluated it. The report has no sufficient evidence. It’s just a mere list of accusations."] At the same time, Bolante expressed relief that the Senate probe is over and that the ball is now with the Ombudsman where he hoped the "rule of evidence and law" would prevail. The Ombudsman has been handling the case for five-years but has yet to release its report. The blue ribbon committee last Monday recommended the filing of plunder charges against Bolante and eight other personalities implicated in the fertilizer mess. Charges of technical malversation, money laundering and false testimony were also recommended to be filed against Bolante. Contesting the report, Bolante said the issue had been exploited and used for "grandstanding." He challenged Gordon to explain to the public the bases of his allegations one by one. "Siguro i-define natin, ano po ba ang definition ng Gordon committee sa word na ‘totoo.’ Ang word na totoo po ba ay ‘yung gusto nila marinig o ‘yung katotohanan talaga as defined in the dictionary?" Bolante said. [“I wonder what the committee’s definition of truth is. Is it what they want to hear or the real truth as defined in the dictionary?"] He noted that last January 27, he submitted to the panel a “very thorough memorandum" explaining “word for word" the issues hurdled against him, but the blue ribbon did not use it in its report. “Ako po ay nalulungkot na hindi po ‘yan lumabas sa report ng blue ribbon committee report [I am saddened that it didn’t come out in the blue ribbon committee report]. Where is fairness? That is my question," Bolante said. - GMANews.TV