Jocjoc Bolante visits family, allies at hometown in Capiz
ROXAS CITY – The controversial former Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec. Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante visited his family, friends and allies last week at his hometown in Dao, Capiz.
Tabby Blanco, political ally of Bolante, told The News Today (TNT) that the former DA Usec attended family affairs and returned to Manila on Dec. 22.
"As political allies of Jocjoc, we let him relax first and meet with his family," Blanco said adding that they are putting a distance from Bolante until his case in the Senate will be resolved.
Reliable source told TNT that Bolante attended the Christmas Party of the elected officials and municipal employees of Dao held at Escutin Eco Park Friday afternoon.
The same source said that Bolante met with incumbent Dao Mayor Joselito "Bobo" Escutin and his father former mayor Ernie Escutin and some elected officials.
Bolante reportedly expressed his gratitude to the public officials of Dao for the moral support given to him.
Earlier, former Capiz governor Jose "Ting" Borda, one of the political allies of Bolante, said that the former DA Usec will run for congressman in the 1st district of Capiz.
However, the intention of Bolante to run in public office is not yet confirmed by the controversial former DA Usec.
Bolante was the Agriculture Undersecretary when the fertilizer fund scam erupted. He is accused of diverting at least 728 million pesos in fertilizer funds to President Arroyo's 2004 election campaign.
When the controversy broke out in 2006, Bolante fled to the US and sought asylum, but his petition was denied by the US courts and he was eventually deported. Bolante arrived in the Philippines on October 28, 2008. Upon his arrival, the Senate effected the warrant on Bolante, initially holding him under hospital arrest. After a month, Bolante appeared on the Senate for the first time. He denies that the money was misused stating that there was no fertilizer scam despite the findings of the Commission on Audit that there was 'excessive overpricing' of the liquid fertilizer purchased by Bolante's proponents. He cleared President Arroyo from any direct involvement. He also cleared the congressmen and other local officials implicated in the fertilizer fund scam.
In the congressional inquiry, 1st District Congressman Antonio del Rosario testified that there was indeed anomaly in the controversial P728 million fertilizer scam.
Del Rosario during the House of Representatives hearing said that he was offered funds in 2004 by former Usec. Bolante's "runners", a certain Marites Aytona and Jose Barredo.
He said he was offered P5 million but was told that only 40 percent of this was to be used to purchase foliar fertilizer.
Del Rosario said the runners offered him 30 percent of the P5 million, and that the remaining 30 percent would be Bolante's share.
In response, Bolante insisted that he does not know Barredo and maintained that he did not pocket commissions from the fertilizer funds.