Bolante gets round-the-clock security from Senate

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate would continue to secure beleaguered former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante to ensure his safety, even as he claimed that there were still threats against his life.

Retired Gen. Jose Balajadia, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, said they would continue to provide security for Bolante round the clock, with his men tasked to follow the former agriculture official wherever he goes.

Bolante was allowed to go home late Thursday after testifying for almost 10 hours in the Senate hearing on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

The senators allowed Bolante to go home on the condition that he will make himself available at the next hearings into the controversy, Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said.

He said the Senate would try to get new information on the fertilizer fund scam and review the documents submitted by Bolante as well as his testimony during last Thursday’s hearing.

Cayetano said last Thursday’s hearing is only “the first step” and the Senate expects more from Bolante when they present documents from the Department of Agriculture.

“In the upcoming three or four hearings, we’ll present to him documents and officials from the Department of Agriculture. Let’s see if he (Bolante) can convince anyone,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano also maintained the House of Representatives, which is seeking a separate inquiry into the controversy, should formalize its request to the Senate for Bolante to testify in a hearing next week.

Bolante had sought permission from the Senate to appear before the House hearing.

Cayetano said the House should take the initiative of asking the Senate to allow Bolante to appear before them.

There were reports that Bolante was under threat to prevent him from testifying before the Senate and implicate the President in the scam.

Security officials, however, were quick to disclaim reports of threats against Bolante.   –With Paolo Romero, Jaime Laude