Aytona gives up, claims ambush

The mystery woman who allegedly played a major role in coordinating with local officials on the release of the P728-million fertilizer fund, surrendered to Blue Ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon yesterday after a reported ambush attempt on her.

The surrender came a day after the Senate ordered Maritess Aytona’s arrest along with two others for snubbing the Senate inquiry.

Aytona, the elusive alleged “runner” of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, arrived at the Senate grounds 15 minutes past 2 p.m. after she and her lawyers met up with Gordon at the Hotel Sofitel.

From Sofitel, Gordon accompanied Aytona to the Senate Medical-Dental Services office where she underwent basic physical examination, and was subsequently detained by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

She did not speak to the media. Her doctors said Aytona’s blood pressure was at 140/100.

Aytona can possibly establish the link between Bolante and Jimmy Paule, the alleged financier of the P728-million fertilizer scam who remains elusive and “faceless.”

The Senate will conduct a 10 a.m. hearing on Dec. 22 regarding the controversy although the Senate is now on Christmas break.

“I told the members of the committee that we have to call a hearing because there is civil liberty element involved here. We do not want to keep her long in custody, unless she asks for protective custody,” Gordon said.

On Aytona’s surrender, Gordon said he reiterated his order for her to appear before the Senate following an alleged threatening incident that happened Wednesday while she and her brothers were on their way to the Senate hearing.

“Ms. Aytona called me up last night, and I told her if she wants she could meet with me today. And that’s what she did. We met at the Sofitel Hotel and I brought her here at the Senate,” Gordon said.

Also ordered arrested aside from Aytona and Paule were Julie Gregorio and Reden Antolin.

Gregorio and Antolin were executives of the Feshan Philippines, which cornered about P105-million of the fertilizer fund project.  

The arrest order stemmed from the four’s failure to attend the Senate hearings last Nov. 28, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 despite personal notices sent by the Senate.

“We now have feelers from Julie Gregorio and company… none from Jimmy Paule,” Gordon said.

Gordon said Gregorio’s lawyer went to his office yesterday and brought a letter from her client wherein she gave an excuse on why she was absent in the past hearings.

She apologized for not attending the inquiry as she begged that she not be included in the warrant.

On Aytona, Gordon said, “She was very concerned about her safety. She said she will feel safer if she is with us.”

Gordon did not reveal where Aytona will stay until the Senate conducts its hearing next week.

In her affidavit, Aytona said she got three percent out of the fertilizer project.

Gordon said Aytona is now “definitely” under Senate Custody.

“All of this will fit into a whole picture. It’s part by part. First we cannot say anything about Bolante and then there came the directors. We now have a letter (by Bolante) which was sent to a congressman. There is an oral testimony about his call,” Gordon said.

Gordon said Bolante has been pinned down by Agriculture Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales on his two meetings with Jimmy Paule and other people around five years ago in New World Hotel.

Not convinced

Aytona’s brother, Ramon, went to the Senate Wednesday night. He told Gordon that Maritess was not able to attend the panel’s hearing in the morning after an attempt against her life while they were on their way to the Senate.

Ramon presented his sister’s letter and a police report on the alleged incident that happened at 11 a.m. while they were traveling along Calamba Street near Biak na Bato Street in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City.

An armed man, riding a motorcycle, poked a gun on Aytona’s side while she was inside their Toyota Avanza vehicle which was then en route to the Senate.

Ramon, who was seated at the back of the vehicle, said the incident occurred at about 11:20 a.m. He added that his brother Eduardo, who was driving the car, was able to shake off the supposed assailant by making a U-turn.

Aytona was seated at the front seat of their vehicle.

Gordon said he is still not convinced with Maritess’ story unless he hears her testimony in the next hearing, but said she expects her to be straightforward and honest with her statement, especially after that alleged attempt on her life.

“Ms. Aytona said she was not able to attend the hearing yesterday because of what happened while they were on their way here. Even if I don’t believe her, I have to respect that,” Gordon said.

Aytona said she was concerned about her safety because she knew that some people have been killed in relation to the scam.

Bolante was alleged to have diverted part of the fertilizer fund for the presidential campaign of President Arroyo in 2004.

Textbook agents

In her testimony last Wednesday, a businesswoman Leonicia Marco Llarena testified that she knew Aytona and Paule as early as 1998 since the two were both textbook agents. Llarena is connected with Dane Publishing Inc.

Llarena said Aytona and Paule at times borrowed money from her for their construction business.

She said that in February 2004, Paule approached her and asked for money for a new project since she had a credit line and checking account.

According to Llarena, Paule introduced her to Julie Gregorio and Reden Antolin whom he identified as owners of Feshan Philippines, the firm that bagged the lion’s share in the fertilizer project.

Instead of lending money to Paule, Llarena said she issued a check to Feshan Philippines as a guarantee in order to facilitate the release of the stocks. She said she issued several checks from March to September 2004 totaling P12,695,80 from her personal account. In exchange, she said she got 10 percent in accommodation fee based on the amount.

“I don’t know to whom Feshan sold their products to. I also don’t know the actual value of their products,” she said.

In her testimony, Llarena denied knowing Bolante and said she had no transactions whatsoever with the agriculture department. She also denied knowing Jose Barredo, the Senate witness that identified her as an operative of Aytona. – With Reinir Padua