NBI directed to locate Bolante's runner

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today ordered the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) to locate the whereabouts of Maritess Aytona, former agriculture secretary Jocelyn Bolante's alleged runner in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Gordon, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, issued the order to the NBI after the Senate failed to serve the invitation for Aytona to appear before today's hearing as the Senate resumes its investigation on the fertilizer fund scam.

He added they wanted to invite Aytona and compel her to appear in a face-off with Bolante, the purported architect of the fund scam.

Aytona was earlier identified as the one who proposed a 30-30-40 sharing scheme for the P5-million fertilizer allocation-30 percent for the congressman, 30 percent for Bolante, and 40 percent for the purchase of liquid fertilizer.

Bolante had denied knowing her and Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario, who claimed that Aytona and her cohort, Jose Barredo, had offered him a cut of the P5-million fertilizer fund.