Blue ribbon eyes plunder raps vs Bolante, others

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate blue ribbon committee will recommend the filing of plunder charges against former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante and other personalities involved in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. At a press conference Monday, committee chair Richard Gordon expressed confidence the Office of the Ombudsman would act swiftly on the impending recommendation. "Yes [we will recommend the filing of plunder charges] because this is a 728-million [scam] and an undersecretary is involved, possibly other officials as well," Gordon told reporters shortly after adjourning the Senate investigation. "Now we have a very, very strong case, the Ombudsman must act on this case. Justice must be done, let the heavens fall," he added. Gordon said his committee will have the same recommendation as the one submitted by the committees that investigated the fund scam during the 13th Congress. The agriculture and blue ribbon committees during the previous Congress also recommended the filing of plunder charges against Bolante. "Pareho ng recommendation pero hindi gumalaw (dati) dahil sinasabi na nag-iimbestiga pa kami so tapos na. Yan na ang ebidensiya [We will have the same recommendation but the case did not move because we need to finish our investigation. Now we have the evidence]," Gordon said. He said that during the 13th Congress, the committees were not able to get evidence that would link Bolante to the scam. "Walang ebidensiya dati na naglilink kay Bolante, walang lumabas na regional director, walang undersecretary na sinabing sinama siya ni Bolante sa pakikipagkita kay [alleged Malacanang liaison Jaime] Paule," Gordon said. ["Before there was no evidence directly linking Bolante to the scam, no regional director came forward to say that Bolante called him to give orders on the implementation of the fertilizer project, no undersecretary testified that Bolante asked her to be with him in a meeting with Paule."] Conspiracy "There was a conspiracy from Bolante all the way down. Remember that he was connected to Paule by his own undersecretary [Belinda Gonzales]," the senator said. He said the circumstantial evidence when put together can be a very strong evidence as well. "It strengthens and fortifies the evidence against Bolante and the very fact that he continues to say that he has no involvement in the scam contradicts the many pieces of evidence that we gather," Gordon said. He added that almost all the names mentioned in the previous Senate investigation on the issue has surfaced. "Nakita nyo nung nakaraan kulang sa ebidensya talaga, kung tutuusin medyo hilaw, ngayon medyo luto na. Lumabas na lahat ng testigo [If you will notice the previous probe lacked evidence, we can consider it half-cooked but now all the witnesses have surfaced]," Gordon said. However, despite the absence of evidence linking Malacañang to the scam, Gordon said it is still not off the hook. "From the very beginning, even the (Joker) Arroyo and (Ramon Jr) Magsaysay committees said there was [Malacañang] involvement to a certain extent, either by commission or omission," Gordon said. He said the silence of Malacañang is deafening. "Somebody like an undersecretary who maneuvered an anomaly as big as this should not be allowed to resign and appointed to other government post. Malacañang should have fired him and ordered the filing of charges." The senator expects to submit the committee report before the week ends. Complainant He said the committee report will be rounded to the committee members for signature and then it will be reported to the floor. He said the Senate will then forward it to the Ombudsman for proper action. Asked if the blue ribbon committee or the Senate can be the complainant to ensure that the plunder case will be filed, Gordon said: "We will study that, I'm not yet sure on the legal ground about that one. I don't want to be an investigator and judge and jury at the same time." Aside from plunder, the committee will also be recommending the filing of charges of falsification of public documents, false testimony, disobedience to summons and money laundering. But of all the personalities in the multi-million fund scam, Gordon said he will recommend that Feshan president Julie Gregorio be spared from the filing of cases if she will be found not the most guilty. "She can be a state witness," Gordon said. Earlier in the day, Senator Rodolfo Biazon urged the key personalities in the scam to turn into state witness and help identify the crooks in the government. "Now you, who are here, has a lot of explaining to do in your own so maybe if I am in your place I will consider turning state witness so that we can find the crooks in the government," Biazon said during the hearing. He said the interest of the committee is to focus on the losses incurred by the government because of the transaction. Also during the hearing, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile warned the witnesses that they can be dragged into the cases which will be filed in connection with the alleged scam. "The government was injured in this case and this injury could not have happened without the cooperation of each one of you. The act of one is an indispensable element of defrauding the government. You are now putting yourself in a cell," Enrile said. "The act of one is the act of all. You might have committed a conspiratorial act in this case," the Senate leader added. Witnesses Gregorio and alleged financier Leonicia Llarena, agreed with Biazon that they can help in identifying the crooks in the government but they did not say if they will turn state witnesses. "I agree. Ako po naisubmit ko na lahat ng dokumento na nasa kamay ko [I have already submitted all the documents that are in my possession]," Gegorio said. For her part, Llarena said: "Kaya nagpaunlak ako na dumalo ay para makatulong na maliwanagan ito…Kung ano yung mga dapat isiwalat ko (I agree to attend this hearing to help shed light on the matter..things that I should disclose." Photograph At the start of the hearing, Gordon presented a photograph showing the key personalities in gathered together in a party. Gordon said the photograph shows that Paule is lying. Paule claimed that he was not involved in the fertilizer scam and he did not know the other personalities linked to it. In the picture were Feshan Philippines vice president Redentor Antolin, Paule, alleged financier Leonicia Llarena, Paule's wife, Paule's daughter, Marilyn Araos and Gregorio. Llarena told the committee the photograph was taken during her 50th birthday on Aug. 23, 2004 which was held at her office, Danes Publishing in Quezon City. The other persons in the picture confirmed the authenticity of the photograph except Paule who claimed that "modern technics" might have been used to put his face on the picture as he maintained that he does not know the other persons in the picture. Paule also said that he did not know the other persons in the picture except Llarena who has been his friend for 10 years. "Kung kilala ko sila bakit hindi ko sasabihin [If I really knew them why would I lie]," Paule said upon the questioning of Gordon. For her part, Gregorio said she also did not know that Paule was in the party. "Hindi ko siya kilala [I don't know Paule]. He was never introduced to me," Gregorio said. - GMANews.TV