Philippines arrests official deported from the US

Manila: The Philippine Senate has implemented rarely used powers to arrest a former agriculture official - newly deported from the US - to force him to answer allegations of diverting government funds to the president's electoral campaign.

Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante fled to the US two years ago to avoid the Senate investigation, but US authorities denied his request for asylum and sent him back late on Tuesday.

In a statement at Manila airport, Bolante said he was now ready to testify "at the proper forum" about allegations that he diverted 728 million pesos ($14.85 million) in fertiliser funds for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's 2004 election campaign.

The opposition has accused Arroyo of cheating in the elections but has failed to muster enough support among lawmakers to impeach her.

The opposition-dominated Senate has rarely used arrest powers to seize a witness it wants to testify in an inquiry.

It can enforce arrests through a group of special, armed officers under the control of the Senate's sergeant-at-arms, who is usually in charge of Senate security, and several of the officers met Bolante when he arrived back from the US.

Bolante has asked the Supreme Court to quash the Senate's arrest warrant, but the court has not acted on his petition.

Opposition members are hoping Bolante may implicate Arroyo in the alleged fertiliser scam and give power to their latest push to have her removed from office.