An American lawyer confirmed Thursday that his client, former Philippine agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, will be deported from the United States before the month ends.

Lawyer Ira Azulay told ABS-CBN’s morning show, “Umagang Kay Ganda,” that Bolante and his family had finally decided to stop challenging the US immigration court’s deportation order against him.

Azulay said Bolante filed a petition against the deportation order last week, but later decided to give in to the order “based of his family’s situation.”

He said Bolante “will be leaving the US before the end of the month” but declined to reveal the specific date of his client’s arrival to the Philippines.

The American lawyer, who was obviously angry at Harry Roque, denied the Manila-based public-interest lawyer's  information that Bolante will be deported to Indonesia or another country.

“Misinformation… from people all over the globe who has nothing to do with this matter,” Azulay said when asked about alleged plans that Bolante might be deported to Indonesia or Hong Kong.

The American lawyer added that he will be following Bolante to the Philippines.

Don’t believe Roque

After learning that Roque was also being interviewed by the same program, Azulay accused the Filipino lawyer of spreading misinformation on his client’s immigration case “for the last two years.”

“All he’s done is present misinformation for the last two years, and somehow you still stick him on the news. It’s unbelievable to me that people would be listening to a man who has said nothing of value for two years,” Azulay said.

He scored Roque’s previous revelations about Bolante’s deportation. He also cast doubt on Roque’s “secret sources” on details of his client’s deportation procedures.

Roque, however, claimed that every information he revealed to the public are all based on official records.

He said he had taken the job of following up on the Bolante case “because the people have the right to know.”

Main man in the fertilizer fund scam

Bolante left the country while the Senate was investigating the P728-million fertilizer fund, which was allegedly diverted by the former Agriculture undersecretary to the campaign kitty of President Arroyo in 2004.

In repeatedly denying Bolante’s petition, US courts recognized the Philippine Senate’s authority by taking into account the warrant of arrest issued against the former government official.

Bolante’s camp claimed that he should not be deported because of threats on his life in the Philippines.

The lawyers of the former Agriculture official also said that Bolante was not evading the Senate’s arrest warrant. They added that there are no pending criminal cases against the former official.

Gov’t wont arrest Bolante

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, meanwhile, said Bolante will not be arrested by the government if he returns to the Philippines, since no pending criminal case has been filed against him in court.

Based on an investigation on the fertilizer funds by the Ombudsman, Bolante and other government officials are allegedly liable for diverting public funds to Arroyo's presidential campaign.

Documents obtained by ABS-CBN News from the Ombudsman show there is enough evidence to file a criminal case against Bolante before the anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan.

Roque had accused the Ombudsman of sitting on the recommendation.

The lawyer said the Senate, which issued the outstanding warrant of arrest against Bolante, can arrest the former agriculture department official upon his arrival in Manila.