Magsaysay pulls all the stops on Bolante

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. is going all out in his efforts to block the attempt of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante to seek asylum in the United States and ensure his return to the Philippines.

After writing to US Ambassador Kristie Kenney last month, Magsaysay has sent out what he described as judicial notices to the US attorney general as well as the Philippine desk of the State Department.

In a letter to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Magsaysay reiterated that Bolante does not qualify for asylum for the reason of political persecution as what has been reported.

Magsaysay pointed out that Bolante has been accused of various misdeeds during his stint as agriculture undersecretary, including plunder and misuse of public funds.

Magsaysay’s Senate committee on food and agriculture investigated the scandal.

The Senate has called for Bolante’s arrest after he snubbed a public hearing last year over allegations that he used some P2.8 billion pesos in fertilizer funds to reward politicians who helped President Arroyo win the hotly-contested 2004 presidential election.

Magsaysay indicated his vehement objection to Bolante’s reported application for political asylum in the US, saying his committee represents the interest of over four million Filipino farmers.

He described Bolante’s move as a "mere ploy and grand scheme" to evade the legal processes of the Philippines and "purports to make a mockery the laws of the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines."

"Likewise , the legal action adopted by the subject person is a prostitution of a right known as asylum," he said.

Citing US immigration laws, Magsaysay argued that Bolante does not qualify for asylum as he is neither an enemy of the administration nor a victim of political persecution.

"The applicant, Mr. Bolante, is only resorting to a request for asylum to obviate criminal prosecution against him; therefore, he cannot be classified as a refugee needing the protection of the receiving state," Magsaysay said.