Senate panel resumes fertilizer fund scam probe

MANILA, Philippines – Former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc" Bolante on Tuesday arrived at the Senate for the resumption of the blue ribbon committee hearing on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. Radio dzBB’s Nimfa Ravelo reported that Bolante looked “calm" when he arrived. Bolante has been accused of being the architect of the scam. He allegedly diverted funds allotted for poor farmers to the coffers of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies in the 2004 presidential elections. Aside from Bolante, also present is Jaime Paule, allegedly Bolante’s liaison to Malacañang; and Marilyn Araos, who is allegedly the signatory of Feshan Philippines' Land Bank account. In previous hearings, Feshan's Maritess Aytona claimed Paule identified the foundation that will be used as proponent for the DA project and hired her as consultant. Aytona was also invited in Tuesday’s hearing. Witnesses Julie Gregorio; Redentor Antolin, executives of Feshan Philippines; Leonicia Llarena and Jose Barredo also tagged Paule as the one who convinced Llarena into providing some of the checks that were used as payment for the project. Also expected to attend the blue ribbon panel hearing are Malaine Baui and Racquel Paz, manager and former manager of Land Bank - Elliptical Road Branch, respectively. Janet Lim Napoles, owner of Jo-Chris Trading, the second biggest supplier of fertilizer for the Department of Agriculture (DA) project; and witnesses Gregorio; Antolin; Llarena; and Barredo are also set to attend the hearing. Also invited to attend are Gilbert Coronel, incorporator of National Organization for Agricultural Enhancement and Productivity, Inc., which Paule named. The panel also invited Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Vicente Aquino and Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera. The two were invited to explain what action AMLC took on the freeze order against Bolante's questioned accounts. - Sophia Dedace and Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV