Jocjoc won't flee, lawyers assure Sandiganbayan

MANILA, Philippines -  Lawyers representing Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante yesterday assured the Sandiganbayan that the former agriculture undersecretary is in Metro Manila and has no plans of fleeing the country again.

The defense counsel led by Antonio Zulueta told the Sandiganbayan that Bolante has no wish to evade the charges and is ready to appear before the court anytime.

Zulueta made the manifestation on behalf of Bolante, who is facing a plunder charge for allegedly masterminding the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Zulueta made the assurance after government prosecutors asked for Bolante’s whereabouts along with one of his co-accused, former assistant secretary Ibarra Poliquit, considering that they are charged with a non-bailable offense.

“They are in Metro Manila,” Zulueta said. “In fact they have been meeting with us regularly to discuss this particular case.”

He also said Bolante and Poliquit will comply with the orders of the court and appear before the Sandiganbayan if required.

“I would also like to state that we are confident that the case against them will be dismissed,” Zulueta added.

Zulueta filed a motion for judicial determination of probable cause on the charges against his client.

He argued that there was no preliminary investigation conducted by the ombudsman on his client on the charges of plunder.

Zulueta added the charges of plunder against Bolante have no probable cause.

The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has ordered the prosecution to comment on the motion within 10 days and gave the defense panel another 10 days to answer.

Zulueta is also asking the court for a suspension of proceedings and the deferment of the issuance of warrants of arrests against Bolante and Poliquit.

Among the other co-accused in the case are former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and other former officials of the Department of Agriculture during the Arroyo administration.