Bolante breaks silence, faces Capiz media
ROXAS CITY – Embattled former Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, who is now facing plunder charges along with eight others, held his first ever press conference with the local media yesterday at Villa Patria here breaking his silence on the controversial P728 million fertilizer scam.
Bolante fulfilled his promise to this writer that he will hold a press conference as soon as the Senate finishes its committee hearing on the issue.
He said that his last press conference with the national media was on July 2004 when he was about to resign as DA Usec. due to the alleged scam.
“I’m happy that the investigation is over because it will proceed and move in the proper forum where the rule of the law will be properly observed not like in the Senate where the rule of law and even their own rules of procedure is not observed,” Bolante said.
He added that the issue had been exploited too much for their own political grandstanding particularly referring to Sen. Richard Gordon.
“Nakita naman ninyo kon ano ang pag insulto kag pagbastos nila sa akon pero hindi ako nag react” (You know how I was insulted and humiliated in the Senate hearing but I never reacted), Bolante said.
In the final analysis, Bolante said, Gordon is an orator projecting himself as crusader of truth.
Bolante said, in the Senate hearing it was clear that the Commission on Audit (COA) has confirmed (during the third hearing on Nov. 28, 2008) that the P728 million was actually accounted for. Moreover, he said, the DA has reported that about 91% of the funds has been liquidated as also confirmed by the COA.
He said the DA regional directors, except Ricardo Oblena, also testified that they never received calls or instructions from him to favor any supplier or anything that will interfere with their implementation of the projects.
He added that the alleged runner Jose Barredo, Leonicia Llanera, Feshan Phils. President Julie Gregorio, Redentor Antolin, Manilyn Araos of Land Bank of the Phils, Maritess Aytona and Jaime Paule, an alleged Malacañang liaison, testified in the Senate hearings that they never know him.
Bolante said that the accusations against him were baseless adding that he will show to the proper venue that he is innocent of the alleged fertilizer scam involving P728 million.
Meanwhile, Bolante confirmed that he will settle down to run for governor of Capiz instead of running for congressman.
A reliable source told The News Today (TNT) that Bolante decided to settle for governorship because he does not want that his friends like Vice Governor Felipe Barredo or Former City Vice Mayor Alan Celino, who is also groomed to run as congressman, will be affected. Earlier, Barredo also announced that he will also run for congressman.
The source said he will also not run for 2nd district congressman because he does not want that Mrs. Jane Castro, wife of last termer Cong. Fredenil Castro, will be affected.