ROXAS DARES OMBUDSMAN: BRING JOCJOC HOME SHOW ACTION, DON'T GIVE EXCUSES, OMBUDSMAN TOLD

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today dared Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to work actively to bring former Agriculture Usec. Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante back to the Philippines to face charges in relation to the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Roxas said the Ombudsman has the prerogative to summon Bolante to give evidence during its preliminary investigation on the fertilizer scam, so its excuse that it is still in the stage of evidence-gathering is invalid.

"Kung talagang gugustuhin ng Ombudsman, puwedeng-puwede naman nitong ipatawag si Bolante para kunan ng testimonya. Dapat nga ay magsampa agad ng petisyon sa Korte o sumulat sa pamahalaan ng Amerika para dito na i-diretso sa Pilipinas si Joc-Joc," he said.

Roxas said Guitierez could follow his lead and seek an appointment with United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney to stress the importance of bringing Bolante back so he could face the charges against him.

"Napakabigat ng mga paratang kay Joc-Joc, at isang masamang epekto nito ay patuloy ang kahirapan ng ating mga magsasaka dahil na-raket lang ang bilyon-bilyong pisong pondo para sa agrikultura gaya ng fertilizer fund," he said.

Roxas has asked the US government to deport Bolante straight to the Philippines instead of to Hong Kong as soon as the US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals junking of Bolante's application for asylum becomes final.

"Ang problema ay hindi natin nakikitaan ng matibay na aksyon ang Ombudsman dito sa kaso kay Bolante at sa iba pang sabit dito sa fertilizer fund scam. Dapat ay magpakitang-gilas naman ang Ombudsman at gawin ang tama," he said.