Senate tracking down witnesses vs Bolante

An alleged financier of the “runners” in the fertilizer fund scam was subpoenaed by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee as senators yesterday said there would be no letup in the investigation.

Senators also justified the order to arrest and detain former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante.

Bolante accused them of overstepping their authority and asked the Supreme Court to release him from the chamber’s detention.

The senators said it was Bolante’s right to go to the SC but he would remain detained until the Senate is told that its order is unlawful.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, said the alleged financier was identified as Leonicia “Necy” Llarena of Dane Publishing House. Llarena was identified by Maritess Aytona, the supposed “runner” of Bolante.

Another witness, Jose Barredo, claimed to have worked for Aytona and said they supplied the liquid fertilizers and discussed the commissions for Bolante, the fund recipients and the suppliers once the funds were released.

But the liquid fertilizers were allegedly not fit for palay and were overpriced so the money allegedly just went to the perpetrators of the scam.

Gordon said Llarena and her lawyer set a meeting with him yesterday but backed out at the last minute. “I think they got afraid. So I told the lawyer we would issue an arrest warrant if she would not come out,” Gordon said.

Gordon explained they held the identity of Llarena to prevent others involved in the scam from threatening her from testifying.

Llarena’s lawyer reasoned they had not yet received the subpoena and prepared a written statement. But Gordon said the committee would not need just a statement but testimony before the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. meanwhile said he received information that Bolante was holding meetings at the LTA Building, the office of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and that he was trying to convince two more witnesses to testify on what they knew about the controversy.

“The information that I have are quite significant and I think this will lead to the doorstep of the Palace. They have first-hand information and if they will talk, it will be heavy,” Pimentel said over radio dwIZ.

He said he was not expecting the Senate probe to be finished soon and thus, Bolante might have to spend more time in detention. – Aurea Calica