MANILA, Philippines -- A Palace official arrived at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City early Monday evening to "buy cough medicine."

Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez arrived at the SLMC past 5:00 p.m. and left shortly, telling reporters that he merely bought cough medicines -- four capsules of a popular brand -- and not to visit former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, who has been confined at the hospital after he was deported from the United States.

"Hindi naman [Not really]. Nakalimutan ko nga na andito siya [I already forgot that he was here]," said Golez when asked if he visited Bolante.

At the same time, Golez dispelled speculations that he paid for the hospital bills of Bolante, who was cleared by the doctor to leave the hospital earlier Monday.

Golez said he was living in New Manila and that SLMC was the nearest place where he could buy medicine.

Golez said he bought medicine to bring to the United States Monday night when he would leave with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bolante allegedly engineered the diversion of the multimillion-peso fertilizer fund to Arroyo's 2004 campaign kitty.

He is set to face a Senate inquiry into the scandal soon.