Bolante Petitions US Court To Release Him

Malacañang Palace, as of the latest report, may use diplomatic channel to free Mr. Jocelyn Bolante from the US detention cell in Kenosha Country, Wisconsin, USA. it may be recalled, that the US Embassy in Manila cancelled Bolante’s non-immigrant visa to enter the United States. When he arrived on July 7, 2006 in Los Angeles, California, Bolante was immediately arrested and detained.
According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, he might file a diplomatic protest in the US Embassy in Manila upon the advise of Senator Meriam Defensor Santiago who said "Bolante’s case is a clear breach of protocol. Senator Santiago is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Santiago suggested the Philippines should file a note with US Ambassador to the Philippine on the matter and request that Bolanate’s visa be reactivated and he should be allowed to enter the United States freely.
But Bolante filed a petition for habeas corpus with the Wisconsin District Court. He asked the court to order Secretary of States Condoleza Rice, US Atty. General Alberto Gonzales, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to release him from custody. Bolante contented that the cancellation of his US Visa was illegal.
According to his petition, the US Embassy in Manila did not notify him that his visa will be scrapped and was not given a chance to give his side.
When he was arrested upon his arrival in Los Angeles on July 7. He was told his arrest was prompted by an arrest warrant issued by the Philippine Senate which cited Bolante in contempt for his failure to appear in hearings regarding the alleged P728 million fertilizer fund scam.
Mr. Jocelyn Bolante is a successful businessman before he joined in 2001 the cabinet of PGMA as Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture.
Before, he joined the government, Bolante’s asset was valued at P266 million plus. He has a 2000 square meters land in Ayala Village which he bought for P30 million. He has a fleet of luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Honda and Nissan. He is a member of exclusive golf clubs, beach resorts and millions of share of stocks in leading business firms.
At the time of his arrest, Bolante was Treasurer, a fourth rank officer of a prestigious organization, Rotary International.
Bolante has decided to seek political asylum in the United States. He did this to prevent deportation and face his accusers of fund scam in the Philippines.
Bolante was charged as the "brain and the architect in a scheme that diverted the P728 million fertilizer fund to PGMA’s campaign fund in the May 2004 election. It was alleged that he listed 105 congressman, 53 provincial governors and 23 municipal mayors to justify the release of the fund. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com