MANILA, Philippines -- Former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante will not be handcuffed when he is served a Senate arrest order on his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Baljadia said Tuesday night.
Balajadia said several arresting teams from his office are now at the NAIA to serve the arrest order on Bolante and take him into custody. However, he declined to say exactly how many arresting officers are at the airport, citing security considerations.
“There will be groups; I may have more teams [deployed], hindi lang isang grupo [Not just one group]. It [arrest order] will be served to Mr. Bolante as he comes out,” Balajadia said over the phone.
Bolante, who is accused of engineering the so-called fertilizer fund scam, is expected to arrive late Thursday night after being deported from the United States.
“Hindi namin siya [Bolante] ipoposas [He won’t be handcuffed] because he’s not a criminal. He was just cited in contempt for refusing to attend the Senate hearings,” Balajadia said.
Upon arrival at the airport, Bolante will be photographed, his fingerprints taken and undergo other procedures before personnel of the Department of Justice and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) turn over him to Senate custody, Balajadia explained.
“Ibibigay ng NBI si Bolante sa amin [The NBI will hand over Bolante to us]. They have to. Iyan ang coordination naming [That is our coordination],” the Senate official further said.
The arrest order on Bolante was issued by the Senate in 2005 after he snubbed Senate summons to appear before its inquiry into the fertilizer scam, which involved the alleged diversion of P728 million in funds intended for assistance to farmers to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Bolante fled the country but was arrested by American immigration officials after his visa was cancelled by the US government on the Senate’s request. He sought but was denied US asylum.
Senate President Manuel Villar and several other senators maintain the order for Bolante’s arrest remains valid.
