Senators welcome SC ruling on Bolante

MANILA, Philippines -- Senators on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court decision granting former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante's petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said the Senate will abide by the decision of the Court, which he described as "procedural," adding that the ruling is not a victory for Bolante.

"No, no. It's procedural," he said over the phone.

Gordon' s committee is investigating the alleged P728-million fertilizer fund scam, which involved the alleged diversion, supposedly engineered by Bolante, of government money to the 2004 election campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

With the blue ribbon committee scheduled to meet on Wednesday, the senator raised the possibility that Bolante would be released even before the December 12 hearing set by the Court for the chamber to produce the former official.

The committee is considering filing a perjury case against Bolante and then release him from Senate detention.

"Baka mag-decide na kami na i-release siya before that Friday schedule [We might decide to release him before that Friday schedule]," Gordon said.

Senators welcome SC ruling on Bolante
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:18:00 12/09/2008
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081209-177032/Senators-welcome-SC-ruling-on-Bolante