MANILA, Philippines?The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has asked the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to track down a person whose name came up in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam hearing on Friday.
Sen. Richard Gordon, committee chair, identified the man as Jimmy Paule, who has alleged ties to Malacañang.
?He may know a lot about this. He appears to be the financier,? said Gordon in an interview over dwIZ radio yesterday.
Witness Jose Barredo Jr., who admitted he had worked for former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn ?Joc-joc? Bolante?s alleged runner Maritess ?Tess? Aytona, mentioned Paule in passing during his testimony before the blue ribbon panel.
He said Paule was an acquaintance of Aytona?s.
?He had a direct link to Malacañang,? Barredo said. TJ Burgonio
