Fertilizer scam witness Paule freed from jail

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Jaime Paule, the alleged bagman and witness in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, was finally released from the Pasay City Jail yesterday afternoon.

His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the Senate ordered his client’s release from detention Sunday evening.

“Whatever has happened to me, I am giving it up to God even if my person has been trampled upon,” Paule, 58, said in Filipino as he went out of jail around at 4 p.m, adding that he would go straight home to his sick wife.

Topacio said Paule will need to rest at home since his health has deteriorated as a result of his temporary stay at the city jail.

“However, we will not take things sitting down. We will be seeking the assistance of the Commission on Human Rights since it is obvious that the human and political rights of my client were violated,” Topacio said.

The lawyer added that they are wondering why his client is now being confronted with a case of Violation of the Bouncing Checks Act (Batas Pambansa Bilang 22) filed at the sala of Judge Augustus Diaz of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

“This case has been filed in 2004 and Mr. Paule has already attended hearings concerning this. We are just wondering why this case, which involved a very minor offense, has again surfaced,” he said.

The case reportedly stemmed from a complaint filed by a certain Dr. Jose Oreta of St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Topacio said that because of the old case being brought up anew, Paule has again been subjected to stress and his blood pressure shot up Sunday evening.

Paule was taken to the Pasay City Jail Thursday night by officers of the Senate sergeant-at-arms after doctors at St. Luke’s discharged him.

Two personnel from the Office of the Sergeant Senate-at-Arms were stationed inside the jail to watch over Paule.

Paule was escorted to the city jail by Superintendent Jaime Dimacali, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms director, and Chief Inspector Joey Goforth of the Pasay City police Investigation and Detective Management Section.

Topacio expressed concern over Paule’s “long history of cardiovascular disease” and said it is not advisable for him to remain in jail for a long time.

“He (Paule) has been a patient of St. Luke’s since 1999 because of this particular ailment,” Topacio added.

Paule’s daughter Eiriz Ercillo said the charges against her father were “unfair,” while Topacio pointed out that the Senate had no jurisdiction to hand over custody of Paule to the Pasay police.

Paule was brought early last week to the St. Luke’s Medical Center after complaining of chest pains which doctors attributed to gastric esophageal influx disease due to stress.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee had signed the resolution citing the businessman in contempt for falsely and evasively testifying during the hearings last Jan. 20 and 26.