ILOILO City, Philippines — Former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante yesterday said he is seriously considering joining politics and might seek public office in the 2010 elections.
Speaking at a public affairs program aired locally, Bolante said that he has been busy lately going around Capiz, his home province, consulting family and friends about his political plans.
“I will run if God shows compassion on me, and those I consulted approve of my plan,” he said when asked if he is running for governor of Capiz next year. “These days, I do nothing but go around Capiz consulting my relatives and supporters.”
“Honestly, my friends and those who benefited from my projects in Capiz are the ones urging me to run,” he added.
The controversial former government official said he has already pleaded with Rep. Fredenil Castro, Vice Gov. Felipe Barredo, and nine local mayors whom he did not name, to give him more time within which he can seek the advice of his family and supporters regarding his political plan.
“We all know that if we have a very important undertaking we first seek the nod of our elders, otherwise they might scold us,” he said.
But he admitted that not everybody in Capiz seems to approve of his candidacy.
Several political figures in their province criticized Bolante for not having done anything for the province.
“There are those who remark that I have done nothing for Capiz, it is because I have the habit of not broadcasting my projects. I have a lot of projects, just ask the people from my hometown of Dao and they will tell you the truth. In fact, many times they insist that they put my name on the project but I disagreed because I am still alive,” he said, stressing that putting his name on his projects would make them appear as his “lapida,” or tombstone.
“What I know I will share with Capiz. If I was able to develop our business from a one million-peso company to a multi-billion company when I retired in 2001, I think I can also make economic development one of the pillars of my government service if indeed I come back to government service,” he added.
Bolante, who was accused of masterminding the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004, also challenged his critics to prove he pocketed money supposedly earmarked for farmers.
He is an administration ally, although he hails from a province considered as bailiwick of Sen. Mar Roxas, a critic of President Arroyo and a presidential contender.
He implied that he might seek an alliance with Roxas next year.