Detained Ex-Philippine Gov't Official Not Seeking Arroyo's Help
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Former Philippine agriculture secretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante, who was arrested in Los Angeles by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), is not seeking assistance from her former boss, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In a statement, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye denied earlier reports that Bolante has sought the help of Mrs. Arroyo for her immediate release in the U.S. The former agriculture secretary is being held at the San Pedro Detention Center in California after his B1-B2 visa was been cancelled. Bunye said, "In fairness, he (Bolante) never asked the Palace to help him out of his predicament." Bolante is being linked to the P728 million fertilizer scandal in the Philippines. The scandal is included in the new impeachment filed by anti-Arroyo groups before the Philippine Congress. Bunye adds, "We are confident that he will be accorded due process by the US authorities and that this matter will be cleared up in due time." Several senators in the Philippines are pushing for extradition so Bolante could face the charges that he facilitated the illegal transfer of fertilizer funds for the farmers to finance the campaign of Mrs. Arroyo during the 2004 elections.
Article © All Headline News - All Rights Reserved
|
