Palace welcomes 'Joc-joc' statement clearing Arroyo in fertilizer fund scam
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/13/2008 2:24 PM
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Malacañang welcomed the statement of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn 'Joc-joc' Bolante that President Arroyo had no hand in the P728-million fertilizer fund that was allegedly misused for her election campaign in 2004.
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said the appearance of Bolante at the Senate was a "very positive development towards establishing the truth, serving the ends of justice and putting a closure to this sorry issue."
"We welcome the clarification made during the hearing that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had no hand in the controversy by way of approval of fund releases or implementation of the fertilizer program," he said.
"We hope that the investigation will proceed and end with the rights, duties and privileges of both the Senate and Mr. Bolante and other witnesses being consistently honored and respected," Claudio said.
During his testimony at the Senate Thursday morning, Bolante said he, too, was not involved in the implementation of the fertilizer fund program, but he admitted to being involved in the transfer of the funds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the program implementors such as the regional directors of the DA and local officials, including mayors and governors.
Senator Manuel 'Mar' Roxas, however, said it was possible for Malacanang not to have been involved in the transactions. He said this was also the opinion of former Department of Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin.
