Group vows to block Bolante's political plans
A militant fisherfolk alliance has vowed to block plans of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante to run for governor or any other elective position in Capiz province in the 2010 elections.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups that filed plunder charges against Bolante before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged P728-million fertilizer fund scam, said it will frustrate Bolante's plan to run for office next year.
“Bolante should forget his dream of running the province of Capiz, they way he orchestrated the P728-million fertilizer scam in 2004. The Filipino people will not allow him to use public office as tool to evade charges of first-rate crimes of corruption filed against him,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a statement.
Bolante, a native of Dao town in Capiz, announced on March 2 that he is interested in running for a position in the province, considered a bailiwick of presidential aspirant Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and the opposition Liberal Party.
But Bolante had said that he has not decided if he would run for governor or for congressman in either the first or second district of Capiz. His plans are reportedly being backed by several officials including mayors of the province.
Hicap said he believes that Capiz folk will not allow Bolante to hold office again because of his “checkered, dark and corrupt” past.
“Even if Bolante succeeds in getting (the Commission on Elections') nod to run for governor of Capiz, the Capiz electorate will not gamble their present stakes and future in the hands of a certified corrupt official,” said Hicap.
Bolante is widely believed to be a key player in the alleged fertilizer scam which involved the distribution of funds to allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo, purportedly to help ensure her victory in the 2004 presidential election.
The Senate blue ribbon committee earlier recommended the filing of plunder and other cases against Bolante and several others related to the alleged fertilizer fund scam.
Bolante has repeatedly denied the allegations of any irregularities involving the disbursement of fertilizer funds.
Hicap urged Capiz officials who are supporting Bolante's plans to reconsider their support, warning of a political backlash on their political careers.
“Do these officials wanted to be branded and cursed by the Filipino public as coddlers of Bolante? What is their main agenda for backing the highly questionable and immoral gubernatorial bid of Bolante?” said Hicap.
Pamalakaya said the Bolante's moves to run for office in Capiz is “part of the electoral plan of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to field public officials and close associates with pending criminal and civil cases before the Office of the Ombudsman and other appropriate courts” as a way of evading the charges.