ROXAS: SENATE HAS FIRST DIBS ON JOC-JOC

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the Senate has given controversial Agriculture Usec. Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante time before giving his testimony on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam on Thursday, but that he was still under Senate custody and must not be allowed to leave his place of detention until he faces the Senate.

"Bolante is under custody of the Senate, so any of his movements will be with the permission of the Senate. He is not a free person to accept invitations as he so chooses," said Roxas during today's session, after reports surfaced that the House of Representatives was inviting Bolante for a hearing tomorrow, Wednesday.

"Kung pupunta si Joc-Joc kung saan niya ninanais, ay dapat dalhin na siya rito para mag-testify. Kaya siya binigyang hanggang Huwebes magpahinga, dahil sa kalusugan niya (If Joc-Joc will just go where he pleases, then we should already bring him here to testify. The reason he was given till Thursday to rest, was because of his ailing health)," Roxas said.

"Hinayaang manatili sa ospital si Joc-Joc dahil sa kagandahang loob ng mga senador, para sa humanitarian reasons. Hindi dapat ito abusuhin (Joc-Joc was allowed to stay in the hospital because of the good will of the senators, for humanitarian reasons. This should not be abused)," he added.

The Ilonggo senator said he was confident the House would respect the Senate's custody of Bolante.

"May interparliamentary courtesy na dapat ikinosidera rito. Hindi dapat lagyang kulay o motibo ang intensyon ng House sa pagtawag kay Joc-Joc. Lahat tayo'y nagnanais ng katotohanan, at na malaman kung kasabwat nga ba ang Malacañang. Ang Senado ang nag-imbestiga kay Joc-Joc noon pang 13th Congress, at yung natitira na lang ay pakinggan ang panig ni Joc-Joc (There is interparliamentary courtesy considered here. We should not put color or motives to the House's intentions in calling for Joc-Joc. All of us want to know the truth, and know if Malacañang was a part of this. The Senate had investigated this since the 13th Congress, an the only thing left is to listen to Joc-Joc's side)," he said.