Dureza explained that Bolante's case is still under the jurisdiction of the United States government and Malacañang would just have to "let the law take its normal course."

 

"The [case] is in America, and what will the US government do in the light of their rejection of his asylum [petition] will be the next step that will take place. They will expel, and they will make the decision," the press secretary told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

 

The Malacañang official said he does not know if there are officials from the Philippine government communicating with Bolante.

 

There were reports that Bolante may be deported to Hong Kong, instead of being brought back to the Philippines.

 

 

Even if the US government decides to return Bolante straight to the Philippines, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the former agriculture official cannot be arrested by the authorities.

 

"If he's returned to the Philippines, what should we do with him? He doesn't have a criminal case yet. If he arrives I don't think we can arrest him, unless [the] Senate enforces [an] arrest before," Gonzalez said.

 

Sen. Francis Escudero said Bolante should immediately be arrested once he steps out of the plane upon his arrival.

 

"Welcome home and welcome back. He should face the plunder case filed against him," Escudero said.

 

Escudero said Bolante should be brought before the Office of the Ombudsman to face the case before being made to appear at the Senate, which investigated the fertilizer fund scam.

 

There were allegations that the fertilizer fund found its way to President Arroyo's campaign kitty for the 2004 elections. 

 

The senator said even if the Senate investigation has been closed, Bolante may still be forced to face the upper chamber because of his alleged involvement in the P2-billion swine scam.

 

UP law professor Harry Roque, who pursued Bolante's asylum case in the US, said the former agriculture official is also involved in the swine scam.

 

Roque said Bolante sat at the board of Quedancor as the representative of the Department of Agriculture when the program was approved. He said Bolante was a board member at the Land Bank of the Philippines when the Quedancor loan was approved.

 

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Blue-Ribbon Committee, said the fertilizer fund scam probe should be reopened, and should zero in on identifying other people involved in the issue.