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Official charged with giving false testimony

A former agriculture secretary was charged yesterday before the Department of Justice with allegedly giving "false testimony" during a hearing being conducted by the senate.

  • By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
  • Published: 23:39 December 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manila: A former agriculture secretary was charged yesterday before the Department of Justice with allegedly giving "false testimony" during a hearing being conducted by the senate.

Independent Senator Richard Gordon filed eight counts of false testimony charges against former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante for lying about the extent of his involvement in the 728 million peso ($15.16 million) fertiliser fund controversy.

Aside from being charged with giving false testimony, Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, filed the charges of disobeying senate summons.

Giving false testimony under oath and resisting to heed senate summons is punishable with six months imprisonment under the country's Revised Penal Code.

"Formal charges for disobedience to summons and eight counts of false testimony have been filed against Bolante. This should serve as a strong warning not only to Bolante, but also to other witnesses who would testify before the Senate," Gordon said.

Earlier, Gordon ordered Bolante held at the senate detention room for not heeding the chamber's request for his testimony on the so-called fertiliser scam.

The scam had allegedly been carried out by Bolante in 2004. It allegedly diverted millions of pesos meant for the purchase of fertilisers for farmers to several bank accounts.

These bank accounts allegedly were used by Bolante to set aside funds that was allegedly used by President Gloria Arroyo to finance her 2004 presidential campaign

Gordon said he expects the court to act swiftly on the case. "We expect the court to act promptly on the case," he added.

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