SC rules Senate has no power to judge any criminal guilt, says Bolante
ROXAS CITY – Citing a Supreme Court ruling, former Agriculture Usec. Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante said that the high court has emphatically ruled that the Senate has no authority to prosecute or judge anyone thus, the determination of criminal guilt, are not functions of the Senate, Congress is neither a law enforcement nor a trial agency.
Such reaction was raised by Bolante after the Senate recently adopted a Blue Ribbon Committee report seeking the filing of plunder and other charges against him over the alleged P728-million fertilizer fund scam which he described as politically motivated and grandstanding on the part of Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Blue Ribbon committee, for the sake of free media mileage to improve survey ratings.
“The re-submission of the Gordon committee report is superfluous, devoid of legal significance, a rehash, and a clear grandstanding with obvious political motive as he wanted to resurrect the issues against me which comes with free media coverage,” Bolante said in a radio interview.
According to him, Gordon is extremely desperate about his very low rating in his presidential bid. “Kon tani magbakas nalang sia sa iya pagdalagan. Indi sia magtapak sa ulo ni Jocjoc para sya mahatagan sang atensyon sang publiko” Bolante said.
The former Agriculture Undersecretary said that Gordon’s committee has nothing new against him adding that Gordon’s and the previous Ramon Magsaysay committee reports have both no evidence to support their irresponsible accusation of technical malversation, much less plunder case against him.
He refuted that he was only the witness of the alleged fertilizers scam and not the accused during the Senate hearing based on a letter sent by Sen. Meriam Defensor Santiago to Gordon
Last Tuesday, the Senate adopted a blue ribbon committee report seeking the filing of plunder case and other charges against Bolante, et al, as well as an explanation from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on her role in the alleged P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
The committee report was approved without interpellation two days before congress is scheduled to adjourn its session and take a three-month for the election period.
Bolante is running for governor of Capiz under Ugyon Kita Capiz (UKC) party, which is allied with the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
He said that the Phil. Daily Inquirer news items that the Ombudsman’s case filed by the late Marlene Esperat against Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap was dropped. He said the reported graft complaint against him was grossly erroneous and misleading.
“The entire complaint of the late Esperat against all respondents, including me, was dismissed by the Ombudsman,” Bolante said.
