What more indignities would Joc Joc Bolante, former agriculture undersecretary, be willing to suffer to protect his friends and patrons, Gloria and Mike Arroyo?
Bolante, who has been under detention since July 7 at the San Pedro Detention Center in Los Angeles, has been granted his request to be transferred to the Chicago federal detention center because his family is based in Evanston, just outside Chicago. The Rotary International, where Bolante served as treasurer, is also in Evanston.
Bolante probably thought that Chicago would be friendlier to him than Los Angeles.
He is in for a big disappointment.
At the San Pedro Detention Center, his co-inmates are all charged with violation of US immigration laws. In Chicago, the detention facility of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which has jurisdiction over Bolante, is in the suburbs. So every hearing, Bolante will have to stay at the local jail lumped with common criminals.
This must be a nightmare for Bolante, who just two months ago, strutted into the Evanston Hotel with six bodyguards. A Filipino employee at the hotel said Bolante, who arrived in a three-car convoy, antagonized some guests when his bodyguards forbade others to ride with them in the elevator.
If Bolante still has his sense of humor, he can say that he still travels with armed escorts, paid for by the US government.
Bolante has been in detention for over a month and it looks like he will be spending time behind bars longer because a group of Filipino lawyers led by Harry Roque of the Institute of International Legal Studies at the University of the Philippines has submitted an amicus brief to the Los Angeles court (it will be forwarded to the Chicago court) opposing his application for asylum and motion for bail.
Reasons cited by Roque include: Bolante is not a victim of persecution in the Philippines; he is accused of a non-political crime; and he has been evading summonses to face investigation by the Senate on the diversion of P728 million fertilizer fund to the campaign kitty of Gloria Arroyo in 2004.
In opposing Bolante’s motion for bail, Roque said he is a flight risk. There’s a high possibility that,if he is given temporary liberty, Bolante would go TNT to avoid prosecution.
Compounding Bolante’s bad luck is President Bush’s “National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy” unveiled last Thursday.
“High-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption. It threatens our national interest and violates our values. It impedes our efforts to promote freedom and democracy, end poverty, and combat international crime and terrorism,” Bush said.
Expounding on the latest national strategy, Josette Shiner, undersecretary of state for economic, business and agricultural affairs, said, the goal is to “block, at every level possible, their (kleptocrats) ability to take those monies and to store them for their own personal use or expend them for their own personal use.”
It was explained that the foundation for the strategy against kleptocrats was the January 2004 proclamation by Bush “To Generally Deny Entry Into The United States Of Persons Engaged In Or Benefiting From Corruption.”
Sources said it is this proclamation that was used by the US embassy in requesting INS for the cancellation of Bolante’s business and tourist visa last month. (Actually, Bolante is the third person placed on the list of persons to be denied entry to the US for corruption. The others Maj. Gen. (ret.) Carlos Garcia, former Armed Forces comptroller and Lt. Col. George A. Rabusa, former AFP chief budget officer.)
In that proclamation, Bush said: “I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict the international travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or non-immigrants, of certain persons who have committed, participated in, or are beneficiaries of corruption in the performance of public functions where that corruption has serious adverse effects on international activity of US businesses, US foreign assistance goals, the security of the United- States against transnational crime and terrorism, or the stability of democratic institutions and nations.”
In the same way that Garcia and Rabusa’s corruption may have something to do with US military assistance, there is also a possibility that Bolante’s corruption must have included US food aid or PL 480.
Aside from the corrupt officials, Bush proclamation includes the spouses, children, and dependent household members of persons… “who are beneficiaries of any articles of monetary value or other benefits obtained by such persons.”
Roque is filing with the US Embassy this week a request that Bolante’s wife and children should also be denied entry to the US.
The Bolantes may be realizing now that the padre de familia was getting much more worse than what he had bargained for when he agreed to Mike Arroyo’s strategy to seek asylum in the US to evade telling the truth that would bring down Gloria Arroyo.
Many thought the Bolante issue has died until this article again. So, he’s been detained all along while Gloria and the Big Fat Guy go on with their usual lives.
Those who thought the case was more than a simple immigration issue are now proven correct. There’s more to it. The US wants to nail down this crook. It was the US money that was stolen in that fertilizer scam.
What Senator Magsaysay and his Committee did was very damaging to Bolante’s alleged asylum application. Magsaysay directly wrote to the US Attorney General requesting their office whose Immigration Agency falls under not to grant Bolante his asylum application.
On another issue…this time the second impeachment. GMA now says that the terrorists have planned for this new impeachment. Now she’s blaming it on the terrorists meaning those who filed this new complaint; the opposition and private groups, are terrorists. GMA is echoing the lines of Bush. By blaming the impeachment on the terrorists, she hopes to get the support of the West.
Ellen,
Ano kaya kung pagbawalan din pumasok sa America si Mike, si Iggy at si Mikey?
The United States government will deny safe haven, prevent money-laundering and recover and return stolen funds. Former Department of Agriculture Usec. Joc-Bolante was arrested in Los Angeles International Airport for cancelled visa and possibly money laundering activities in the United States and Europe. The Bush administration should prosecute the corrupt Gloria Pidal Arroyo official for his illegal activities. Joc-Joc’s 728 million pesos fertilizer scam is a test case for the Bush government’s war on kleptocracy in poor countries. The Filipino people expect an American swift justice.
The “National Strategy to Internationalize Efforts Against Kleptocracy” of U.S. President Bush is the answer to why Bolante is still dentained. Let us not also be surprised, too, (maybe happy?) if the Philippine leader, Gloria Arroyo, will be mentioned as countries whose leaders are kleptocratic . In Dubya’s statement on Kleptocracy, he says that “the culture of corruption has undercut development and good governance and bred criminality and mistrust…High-level corruption by senior government officials, or keptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power…is an obstacle to democratic progress, undermines faith in government institutions, and steals prosperity for the people…” Now, doesn’t this describe GMAs government?
If GMA labels the opposition and private groups who filed the 2nd Impeachment complaints as terrorists, GMAs KLEPTOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IS DOWNRIGHT TERRORISM! In the same statement, Dubya says that the rule of thieves affects U.S. interests as “It impedes our efforts to promote freedom and democracy, end poverty, and combat internal crime and terrorism.”
GMA should also stop pressuring the people in the Philippine embassy in Washington to get her a state visit (to the U.S.). After Dubya’s statement, he’s not in the mood for a thief right now.
But Diego, don’t forget that America can also play blind and deaf…look the other way if the guy is a friend and useful to them. Don’t forget Panama’s Gen. Noriega. Bolante’s case could be used by the US as a blackmail to GMA to agree on some unfavorable terms the US wants. America is evil especially under this Bush Admministration. Speaking of America and the current Lebanon crisis, I have more to say:
With only a day before the UN resolution for complete ceasefire formally takes effect, Israel continues to attack Lebanon; bombing Southern Lebanon and Beirut. This is not only bad faith on the part of Israel; but an evil desire to continue her aggression. Israel will never listen to UN. Israel will only listen to the US. The US doesn’t even obey the UN; so why should Israel obey? Remember, the UN refused to attack Iraq but the US still went on to invade Iraq. Why should this Lebanon crisis be any different from Iraq?
Israel and US blame Syria for helping Hezbollah by supplying the later with arms and weapons. But, we hear no country blaming US for providing Israel with those fighter jets and bombs now being used to kill thousands of Lebanese civilians. We hear no one complains about the billions of dollars aids by the US to Israel. Why blame Syria when Israel’s bombs are being dropped close to Syria’s border? This is self defense for Syria just like what Israel always claims to justify her attack. If I were Syria, I could also justify the reason for attacking Israel now under the “self-defense” and counter offense strategy. How nice it would be if Syria and Iran now attack Israel. Then when the US moves in, Russia and China move in too. Let the Third World War starts here. History will then project the US and Israel as the ones that cause the Third World War.
Check this out please: Recently, we were having trouble getting into Malaya online. Now, the problem is with “The Daily Trubune” that’s not updated. The news posted has been there for several days.
“If I were Syria, I could also justify the reason for attacking Israel now under the “self-defense” and counter offense strategy. How nice it would be if Syria and Iran now attack Israel. Then when the US moves in, Russia and China move in too. Let the Third World War starts here”
That just exactly Israel is waiting for. Anytime Syria re-acts, it won’t only lose Golan hight forever but more terretories, and the U.S. and Israel and would just love to stop Iran form developing its own neuclar bombs, and China and Russia would just wink, wink as long as their own interest, I mean as long as the U.S. buy the Chinese Produced ipods and computers and the U.S. just never mind the Russia campaign against Chenchnya. That’s the reality of times, npongco, so for now let just hope that all parties to the conflict will abide by the U.N. ceasefire resolution and stop the madness and start talking in a “meaningful” way. thanks..
Discredited Gloria Arroyo is riding high U.S. President George Bush’s global war on terror. The aborted Al Quad airline bombing plot prompted her to call international conference on terrorism and immediate Senate approval on Anti-Terror bill. She is grabbing all opportunities to divert public attention for her corrupt and impotent administration. The war on terror has nothing to do with GMA’s cheating, stealing, lying and cover-ups for her criminal act against the Filipino people. Gloria Arroyo and her fascist generals is the real terrorist. This time the 2nd impeachment complaint is part of leftist conspiracy. The Hyatt 10 and Liberal Party congressmen endorsers are considered conspirators. Anak ng Jueteng!
It seems that Joc-Joc Bolante may have “influence” to Al Qaeda operatives in making liquid explosives. During the 2004 presidential election former Department of Agriculture Usec. Joc-Joc Bolante distributed substandard and diluted LIQUID FERTILIZERS to dead farmers, congressmen and local officials. Liquid and dry fertilizers have explosive ingredients in bomb making. Timothy McViegh used two tons of dry fertilizer ammonium nitrate to bomb federal building in Okalahoma City. Joc-Joc’s 728 million pesos fertilizer scam is explosive in Philippine politics. The United States is no longer safe haven for Jose Pidal and its clones. They can enjoy their loot somewhere in the South Pole.
Joc Joc should be called an economic terrorist !
On the Lebanon crisis, the conflict will end depending on how long Israel wants to fight and how long the US will allow Israel to do this.
Jose Pidal’s girlfriend Victoria Toh is an economic saboteur for her big time “palusot” pier activities. How about warlords, jueteng lords, smuggling lords, and GMA’s scam lord of lords? Are they terrorists too?
Is U.S. government policy to deny safe havens for corrupt public official is based on court conviction?
Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty and convicted by court of justice. The criminal justice system in the Philippines is snail-slow and bias. The Office of the Ombudsman has a mandate as protector of the people and is not doing enough to prosecute top level government officials. It appears that they are selective in pursuing justice. Gloria Arroyo’s political allies and cronies are deliberately sparred from justice. Mostly they are rewarded in juicy government positions. Until this time, they are still studying the plunder case against Joc-Joc Bolante. How long? Kapag puti na ang uwak?
Allow me to add more on the Lebanon crisis, Diego, even if this is not the topic here…
Intead of creating a calmer atmosphere, Bush is inviting more hatred from his enemies by often mentioning Islamic terrorists or extremists. Why mention Islam? What if Muslim countries and leaders call the Americans Christian terrorists?
My understanding is that U.S. President George W. Bush exploiting the war on terror to boost his Republican Party’s control in U.S. Congress. The Republican Party is strong
in defense issue. U.S. mid-term election fits against anti-war and pro-war candidates. Majority of Americans disagree with Bush’s Iraq war policy. Bush wants to equate Iraq war to war on terror. The latest addition is Israeli war against Hezbollah and the aborted Al Qaeda plot to blow up U.S.-bound airlines. Hezbollah is a recognized political party in Lebanon and labeled as terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. The United States is supporting tyrants and monarchies in the Middle East to suppress the rise of Arab nationalism. My conclusion, it’s all about greed of oil in the Middle East.
In the Philippines, bogus President Gloria Arroyo wants to equate impeachment complaint against her as an act of terrorism. It’s a shallow logic and only morons and lapdogs are buying Malacanang propaganda. I think DFA is using its resources to cover-up Joc-Joc Bolante alleged money laundering in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Treasury should look into a possible law violation by Gloria Arroyo’s officials in Bolante’s case.
For one thing, the Americans, despite the Mad Man at the White House, are not that stupid to go along with the Malacanang illegal occupants’ scheme to evade prosecution by having Bolante kept in the US with a political asylum especially with the worldwide image of the uglier Americans now. They would think twice to be duped into this scam and damage US image further for something that will not benefit them at all regardless of whether or not the Pandak is dangling Mindanao to them as alternate base for the US bases scheduled to be reduced and removed from Japan.
The Americans are wiser than what the Pandak may think of them despite the stupidity of the present US president, who is of similar calibre as hers, depending of course on whose political fence you are in the US of A presently.
My family in the USA is traditionally Republican but I don’t like Bush personally. I did not like the old Bush, either. He actually forced Japan to finance his Gulf War by instigating some Japan bashing that resulted in the atrocities committed against some Asians during the older Bush’s term just because they had yellow skin and slit eyes like those of the Japanese!
I actually removed some of my investments from the USA because of these Bushes. Mabigat sa pamumuhay ang mga ungas sa totoo lang!
Here’s Billy Esposo’s most recent column about Bolante which is very timely:
What if Bolante wants to cut clean and spill the beans?
By William Esposo
INQ7.net
Last updated 02:09am (Mla time) 08/14/2006
http://opinion.inq7.net/inq7viewpoints/columns/view_article.php?article_id=15074
It was Indiana senator Richard Lugar who asked Marcos to cut and cut clean.
But it was “the first friend” Paul Laxalt who provided board and lodging upon the request of his friend.
Chicago, this reminds me of the down fall of Al Capone due to tax evasion!
Yes, that only shows how the US interferes in our political affairs. The US is still doing it today. But instead of telling GMA to cut clean, the US tells Gloria to cut dirty.
The United States interferes in our political affairs since 1899. Puppet government is installed to protect U.S. interests in the Philippines. Former DA Usec. Joc-Joc Bolante can turn state witness in the multi-million fertilizer scam in the Ombudsman and alleged money laundering in the United States. He can avail witness protection program in the Philippines and United States federal witness program. He can spill the beans the money laundering activities of Jose Pidal and possible violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (Rico Act).
One good thing about the U.S. justice system is the strict enforcement at all cost. Investigation on scams (like the Enron fiasco) will be dealt without cover-up. No IFs and no BUTs.
No issuance of executive orders and presidential decrees to protect the wrong doers.
When they say that they will get to the bottom of such scam – they will!
Joc-Joc Bolante’s case is an acid test to U.S. justice system.
ManuelBuencamino said:”Ano kaya kung pagbawalan din pumasok sa America si Mike, si Iggy at si Mikey?”
That would be the day!
Gloria and her family should feel woried about this latest national strategy against kleptocracy of bush.
Remember that it was the US embassy that requested for the cancellation of Bolante’s B1B2 visa?
The info I got was that based on the Senate investigation and other sources they have, the US embassy was able to confirm that Bolante indeed committed acts of corruption.
Under Bush’s 2004 proclamation to deny entry of corrupt persons into US, Bolante’s visa was cancelled.
Harry Roque’s move to include the wife and children is good because that would put more pressure on Bolante. Dapat kumanta na siya. For all we know, that’s what the US wants.
Mike, Mikey and Iggy must not be exempted from strict airport rules. I know Mikey for one is a heavy drinker. But, I don’t think the local airport could do anything with these three powerful guys. When they land in foreign countries, they carry diplomatic passports. I’m not sure these international rules apply to diplomats since their belongings are exempt from check.
Ellen:
You’re right. The Americans may even have started checking on the assets of Bolante in the USA. I’ve talked to members of our church on this, and they were kind of shock to hear of this kind of anomaly, and they have assured me that it is not Americanish to be harboring criminals, especially kleptocrat, in the USA.
Pandak should be careful about wanting to travel to the USA to meet Bush. She may find herself ending up like
Noriega for squandering US financial aid to the Philippines. We may try asking Japan to do the same regarding the ODA to the Philippines from 2001 to present.
Nothing to charge Erap on this for sure, because Japan even refused to give him an audience with the Prime Minister and talk of financial assistance to the Philippines because of the shadow of Marcos that they knew he idolized.
Just because it is palakasan in the Philippines, these crooks think that they can buy their way to justice in the USA. On the contrary, I have me judges in the USA who can be really as strict to tradition and rules as the judges we have in the Land of the Fluctuating Yen.
What they have in the Philippines is the worst kind of graft and corruption that the American mentors must have wondered where the Filipinos got their unique JUST-TIIS system!
BTW, Karl, the Marcoses owned properties in Hawaii even prior to going there in 1986. I understand Greggy Araneta had his property in SFO, too, long before the exodus there. In short, they did not live on US alms and mercy. Their supporters and relatives supported them when their accounts in the US, etc. were frozen.
This should read: On the contrary, I have MET judges in the USA who can be really as strict to tradition and rules as the judges we have in the Land of the Fluctuating Yen.
Pwede ba Ellen, kapag kakanta si Bolante ay palagyan natin ng accompaniment para maganda? Kung pwede sana si Ryan Cayabyab ang tutugtog!!! Siguro para akong pinaghehele, a beautiful music to my ears!!!
Ipananalangin ko na dumating ang araw na iyon……..Joc-Joc singing Scam to the tune of “My Way”. And I just wish the courts in the US will give justice to the family of corrupts, liars, stealers, cheaters, and saints(?)….We all know everything has an end…..MUSIC ALONE SHALL LIVE!!!
A pox on Bolante’s house!
He who flees, most often than not is guilty (of course until proven guilty).
Uncle Sam is playing its cards as the only standing superpower in the world; taking care of itself. It’s sort of one for you and two for me. Makinabang ka, pero mas makikinabang ako! I thought that Billy Esposo’s article makes a lot of sense.
Actually, Billy esposo has better ideas. My suspicion is Uncle Sam is using Bolante to blackmail GMA and the Philippine government…for what, that I still don’t know.
14 August 2006
People!!!! we really dont get it, billy esposo is correct to suspect that the americans is blackmailing gloria, after all its all her doing. By the way for your information, gloria was able to get a meeting with bush in september for a one-on-one meeting, the discussion is still on the air subject on what can be arranged in one of gloria’s sortie in europe before proceeding to the US in september under the guise of attending the UNGA.
The american, the #1 terrorist in the world today, with bush at the helm will talk with his COUNTERPART in the Philippines, meaning her co-terrorist in this side of the world with the topic only them who knows. Maybe, only maybe, they may talk about the joke for her survival.
jinx
If you go to WIKIPEDIA and look up “Kleptocracy,” there is a 2004 list that was released by Transparency International “of what it believes to be the TEN MOST ENRICHING LEADERS in recent years.” The Phlippines appears on the list, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE! #2 on the list is former President Marcos whom the anti-corruption watchdog says alledgedly stole between US$5 Billion to US$10 Billion!!! #10 is former President Estrada who alledgedly stole between US$78 Million to US$80 Million!!! Based on the list, the Philippines is the ONLY COUNTRY that appears TWICE! With Gloria, the Philippines may even end up making on the list thrice!
I based my previous comments in the info I got from wikipedia. For those of you interested, here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptocracy
As you said Chabeli, the list came out in 2004…so let’s wait and see the 2006 edition…hehehe…who knows, gloria might top both men…hehehe 😛
This could be out of topic, natatawa kai ako ke bansot! In the news this afternoon: ceasefire begines today…..and yet the false government says-evacuation of OFWs from Lebanon continues.!! Bali talaga utak ni bansot. Noong kasagsagan ng paglilikas ng mga foreigners na nasa lebanon ang ating bansa ay hindi gumagalaw kaya nahuli na tayo sa pagpapauwi ng mga OFWs, ngayon naman na may ceasefire na, saka sila init na init na pauwian ang mga Filipinos doon. Ano ba talaga, bansot??? Hello? Okey ka ba tyan???
Ayan!
Nadagdagan na ang “titles” ni glue!
Dati, tawag ng lahat: bansot, peke, midget, unano,labandera,
fornicator, cradle snatcher, …hanopabah?
Ngayon: klepto!
Ayos!
Glue must be grinning ear-to-ear kasi ang dami na ng tawag sa kanya ng madlang pipol. Wow! Sikat na siya! mweheheheh…
Spartan, yes, we shall wait nga for the 2006 edition!!!
taipan88, Oo, that is the NEW name of Glue: KLEPTO!!! “The KLEPTO and the KLEPTOCRATS” Parang pangalan ng band no? He he he.
Taken from Wikipedia:
“Kleptocracy (sometimes Cletocracy) (root: Klepto+cracy=rule by thieves) is a pejorative, informal terms for a government that is corrupt in its management of public funds in the sense that its management is designed to primarily sustain the personal wealth and political power of government officials and their cronies (collectively, kleptocrats).
Kleptocracies are often dictatorships or some other form of autocratic government, since democracy makes outright thievery for direct personal gain more difficult to sustain in the long term and still remain in power.
…Redistributive economies that derive wealth through taxation have a natural limitation on how far they can extend the kleptocratic policies on their population eithout destablilizing their government through extending their grab to their own supporters or driving the incomeproducers away from the country or making them withdraw their labor or capital. When redistributive economies do exhibit kleptocratic tendencies, they do so through using taxes collected from the general public to curry favor with the governement’s supporters. Examples of common groups that attract favor are the armed forces, welfare recipients, students, civil servants, famers, retirees, etc.
…kleptocrats routinely ignore economic and social problems in their quest to amass every more wealth and power.”
Ooops, correction: “…sometimes ClePtocracy)…” I missed the letter “P” in the info above. Pardon the typo.
Chabeli:
Baka nga magustuhan ni glue ang “The Kleptomaniacs”!
Kakaiba….
She have been enforcing a “silent Martial Law” ala-marcos….
She has manifested marcosian style, so far, including kleptocracy! Gaya-gaya tlaga itong si kleptoglue. Walang originality!
Maganda ang tunog: parang aristocracy!
kaya lang, may “KLEPTO”::::
doon nagkaiba: wa class si glue macapal-arrovo!
How I wish I can emcee a program where glue and her cohorts are present: The intoduction would be:
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting, “The Kleptomaniacs!”
Ye-ye…ye-ye!
taipan88: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA (LOL)!!!! That’a GOOOOOOOOOOOD one: THE KLEPTOMANIACS!!!
I wouldn’t give Joc joc’s troubles to a monkey on a rock.
The Philippines is no longer a democracy but a KLEPTOCRACY, and The Kleptomaniacs are the TERRORISTS of the country! No wonder Bin Laden uses our country to train, etc. Al Qaida. No wonder the Abu Sayaff problem is still there. Now it is clear. Because of Kleptocracy, terrorism can now thrive in our country! NO THANKS TO A GMA–the KLEPTO herself!
Jinx：
I won’t believe any announcements from Malacanang about the Pandak’s visit to the US. It may just be a working visit arranged by the Pandak herself with memo to the staff of the Philippine Embassy and Consulate to make sure that she gets even just a 10 minute audience enough for a photo-op to blast in Philippine newspapers for effect. I won’t believe these visits unless it is publicized as such in well-read US newspapers. Otherwise, it is only propaganda. Her 6 visits in Japan were in fact of that nature, and did not attract the media here because they were not state visits except for one that was originally arranged for Erap!
The only people aware of her visits in fact were the Filipino immigrants in the USA, and that is only if they are tuned into the Philippine channels! Otherwise, they would not even know she had come and gone.
Sobrang magbigay na paguya sa sarili. Ang kapal!
Chabeli, who would destroy Kleptocracy ? Some say Marcos destroyed Democracy. Who then would destroy Kleptocracy?
I almost jumped with joy reading this news thinking the one who died was GLORIA Arroyo. Tsk, tsk, tsk…
Former education chief Gloria dies
FORMER education secretary Ricardo T. Gloria has died from complications due to diabetes. He was 66.
Gloria who served the old Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) from July 1994 to January of 1998, passed away Sunday at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.
For all we know, Mr. Bolante may feel safer and secure in U.S. detention than in the Philippines. Whatever the justification of his arrest and detention, we can only speculate, but we all know that the U.S. justice is independent from its political masters and that it will shed more light on the “fertilizer scam” than all other inquiries and investigations done and still ongoing in the Philipopines put together. Let it be the lesson to all our politcians, justices and police authorities that it takes another country to clean its dirty laundry.
We would like to believe that it is so, Vic. That the US justice is independent from the politicians or political leaders. But, anything is possible in the name of protecting the US interest or national interest. The US State Department or Washington would prevail by invoking that Bolante’s case should be set aside in the spirit of cooperation with the Philippine government. For instance, if the US wants to increase her troops deployment in the Philippines and build those US military bases again in the South in exchange for taking easy on Bolante, this can happen. The Department of Justice is under the Office of the US President.
npongco,
agreed that the Department of Justice is under the Exscutive Branch, but the court is under the Judiciary which following the check and balance principles which the U.S, democracy is based, is headed by the Supreme Court. And it is my belief that a judge of lower court could not be influenced by the administration that could be ousted by the voter at any election. The Bolante case seem to look big, but in the eyes and ears of the immigration court, it is a case like thousands others.
From the outside, people like you would like to think and believe that it’s that way. But, no one knows the internal maneuver going within the government. The Attorney General was appointed by the US President. If the US President wants to let Bolante free to please GMA for some hidden negotiation, can he not pressure the Attorney General who can pressure the Department of Justice? We’re not talking here yet of Supreme Court. The case has not reached that high yet. It’s still with the USCIS (formerly INS) who is under the Department of Justice.
npongco, you ask, “who would destroy Kleptocracy? Some say Marcos destroyed Democracy. Who then would destroy Kleptocracy?”
Based on info in Wikipedia, “The creation of kleptocracy powered by dictatorship typically results in many years of general hardship and suffering for the vast majority of citizens as civil society and the rule of law disintegrate.” So, I think, it would be safe to say that Democracy could destroy kleptocracy, “since democracy makes outright thievery for direct personal gain more difficult to sustain in the long term…” In our case, the Philippine-style Democracy should focuse on those who have been marginalized; the Have-Not’s; not the Have’s influencing political policies (to their beneift). That is the warped Democracy the Philippines has been in for the loooooongest time.
Nobody among us outsiders know exacly what’s going inside the U.S. government. But I based my comment on my observaion having lived just accross the border in a country where both our justice systems have some kind of semblance. Of course the President of the U.S. can pressure the US Atorney General and in turn the Justice Department, but the problem is the process is not that simple and an Amrican President have to go thru layers of advisers beore taking any action. Take a look at the consequence for such action. Is the Pres. of the U.S. ready and willing to put the Office of the Presidency in Ill refute for such a menial Interest? Would the American Public put up to some kind of “shenanigans” if exposed? The current President of the U.S. is not that smart, but he is sorrounded by intellegent and smart people that he sometimes listen to. Despite his bumblings and misjudgements, he was returned to office by the American
Electorate, and despite his rabid critiques and enemies, he still command on equal nunmber of loyal and rabid supporters himself.
Good point, Vic. But let me just give you an example. Why was Bush and his administration able to go on with their evil desire and invade Iraq? Why were some of the US foreign policies succeeded despite strong opposition from the lawmakers and within America? My point is the US, that means the executive branch, can still succeed in whatever they want to do using their resources and influence. All Bush and Whitehouse have to do is to play this intelligence ploy again…using CIA and Homeland Secuity. What would stop Bush from lying and saying that if Bolante is not set free, his testimony and further detention would affect the relationship between the US and Philippine government now that the US needs to strengthen her military presence in the Pacific through the Philippines against North Korea and China? Is this Bolante case too important for the US in exchange for her greater interest in the Pacific? That’s just an example. And there could be a lot more leverages and secret deals Bush and GMA could do at the expense of justice and Filipino people. If you think the US has the Philippine’s interest in her heart, you are wrong.
On the same note Vic, President Bush in his speech today after taking a vacation as usual blamed the Hezbollah for the Lebanon crisis as well as Syria and Iran. Not even a critical word against Israel and the role US played in this crisis under his leadership. He further stated that Hezbollah lost the war. On what basis did Bush declare that Hezbollah lost and Israel won?
Bush lambasted Iran for her support of Hezbollah. What about China? Did Bush mention even a bit of China? The world knows that China has been supporting Iran. China makes no secret in her alliance with Iran. China is also friendly to Taliban and Al Qaeda. China laundered money for Osama Bin Laden. Iran’s missiles are produced by China. China is openly supporting these terrorists. And so, why is Bush and the US silent about China’s role? Why not even a mild criticism of the Chinese Communist regime who the West claims also to be violating serious human rights? Why is Bush and the US picking only those they can scare and bully? Why not China? Afraid? You bet !
Vic,
You are right. For all the faults with the present set-up, the US courts somehow are still independent of the dictate of the Mad Man at the White House. There is definitely not much difference with the system in Canada.
Japan has in fact similar set-up with the Japanese Constitution in fact tailored for the Japanese by the Americans and the Japanese adjusting to it and/or make it work for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of the Americans.
The reason why Bolante’s attorney must have asked for transfer of Bolante to Chicago is perhaps because he thinks that the Immigration/Court there would be kinder to him because the truth is California, as you know, is predominantly Democrat, and no pressure from the Republican can probably be of help to insure that his petition for asylum can be granted.
With the nature of his arrest not being clear, I actually cannot say anything but if it had been known, I’d be able to check in fact through my contacts in the US Immigration because we actually handle similar cases in Japan, where political asylum seekers are usually handed over to the US except when they can prove that they would have easier time living in Japan because of the language consideration if they speak better Japanese than English like the Burmese granted such political asylum in Japan.
However, if the nature of his arrest is something to do with his visa cancellation, I doubt if he could even ask to pay bail and be outside of the detention since he, by standard, can be considered a risk, escaping for example even with those gadgets they now attach to people on probation so they can be easily tracked down. He does not have a permit even to step foot on US soil as a matter of fact unlike those political asylum seekers that I personally know of like a member of our church who escaped to the US in the late 70’s after being found almost dead in a rice field in the Philippines after whistle-blowing one corrupt Philippine official. He was never detained at the US immigration detention housese because he was not a fugitive from the law.
It is in fact a matter of common sense. At least, we can say that justice in the USA is not wholly the same as in-JUST-TIIS of the Philippines. The Pidals should not be too confident that with all the wealth of the Philippines now transferred to their private funds, they can afford now to buy justice in the USA as well.
At least, in that, especially involving a kleptocrat, we can have faith in the US justice system. America still remains the land of the free despite the attempts presently of the Mad Man at the White House to make it different.
I just hope and pray that Magsaysay, banking on the reputation of his father or even just on his own ability, will do his best this time to show that he is not in the Senate for the wannabe queen, but for the people who voted for him by convincing the US authorities that Bolante has to be made legally responsible for his crimes against the people of the Republic of the Philippines, and likewise, against the people of the United States of America.
If one just banks on the reputation of his father to pursue a case even if it’s laudable and he himself lacks in reputation, not many would be convinced. What do I mean? The Magsaysays in Zambales have long destroyed the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s name. You only have to ask the jueteng operators and collectors in Zambales.
Talagang matindi ang galit ng iba dito sa USA.
Yuko,
Senator Magsaysay reputation is nowhere near His Late Father. My teenage niece Bibz, the subject of my numerous blogs is a daughter of the Late President’s Nephew and not even convinced that tito Jun can compare despite his long political career. She even mentioned once that only a Magsaysay can beat a Magsaysay. But she Loves America now, and I’m not sure if she’s thinking about beating a Magsaysay in the future. That is as much I know about Senator Magsaysay.
That’s right, Vic. The old Magsaysay was even reported to be a CIA agent. And the current Senator Magsaysay…what has he done so far in the Senate? It’s only now that he’s making noise. Where was he when Gloria cheated in 2004? Where was he during the impeachment last year?
mike cohen in manila makes an interesting point here.
mikeinmanila.wordpress.com/2006/07/18/bolante-casemore-than-visa-issues/
In the US there is program headed by DHS-ICE and the US Department of Justice to go after those who may be involved in graft and corruption investigations overseas. Bound by a new (2003) UN ANTI-CORRUPTION TREATY; Are reports of a larger investigation underway true in the USA?
Of particular interest to the Federal Task Force assigned to cases of graft overseas, are, according to documents in the public domain, any supported aid programs that may have gotten US Aid and use such funds for purposes beyond the scope of US Aid programs goals, meaning funds for Fertilizer- should be spent on fertilizer.
A story which appeared on the ‘A’ domestic wire of the Associated Press in the USA, not written from here in manila is mentioning the ‘fertilizer scam’ allegations and a ‘arrest warrant’ allegedly issued by courts in the Philippines.
…..
Even Matt L. the spokesman at the US embassy in Manila, mentioned something in an interview that sparked my interest, “The mater is in the hands of Law Enforcement” –
“Law Enforcement…” is a key word… not Immigration – not CIS- but ‘Law Enforcement’, so is there more to all this? We shall see….
I watched the phone interview yesterday on ANC yesterday with Mat Lussenshop, the spokesman of the US Embassy. it was significatn that he did not deny nor confirm the analyses of Harry Roque (who was careful to say that he was making the conclusion as an academic) that it was the US-anti corruption campaign that snared Bolante.
Yes, that’s all that he said,”It’s in the hands of the law enforcement.”
This is a case of God writes straight with crooked lines.
Corrupt Bolante evades Philippine laws but got caught by US anti-corruption program.
E-mail from Jimmy Wong:
Do you make up stories as you write? BTW, you don’t need six bodyguards to walk around Evanston, again another tale. A good part of Evanston has a big population of millionaires. Nobody knows who Bolante is in Evanston. He can walk the streets with complete anonymity. Get your facts straight you moron.
Mr. Wong, you didn’t say which part of the article you think is not true. Surely not the one about his arrest for entering the U.S. with a canceled visa. Surely, not that part about his request for transfer to Chicago.
Is it the part that it was the US anti-corruption policy that got him? If that was not correct, what was it then?
As to “you don’t need six bodyguards to walk around Evanston”, that’s for persons who have not committed a crime. Even here in the Philippines, one does not need to hide (which Bolante did) IF you have nothing to hide.
I don’t see the connection between Evanton’s “big population of millionaires” and Bolante’s high living.
On Mike Cohen, I’m very impressed by this American who speaks fluent Tagalog. Does anyone know his background? He could have been married to a Filipina.
On Mr. Wong, what’s he talking about? He talks like the late Chiquito who played Mr. Wong in the movies. A Millionaire’s place of living is not a guarantee of safety. The Mafia guys live in the most expensive neighborhood. Crimes are happening even at California’s Beverly Hills. One time, robbers entered a jewelry store.
Mike Cohen is Pilipino. I read some of his posting on PCIJ and he told about his days at work with Doug Batul as Broadcaster in Puerto Princesa, Palawan during his Younger days. Mr. Batul was one of the victims of “journalist assassinations” and if you have a chance to check on the PCIJ archive (palawan journalist…)you’ll find our more about Mike. Soem of the very first entries. PCIJ site on the blink right now. He may just like and American
But physically, Mike Cohen is a white American from head to toe. I didn’t know he’s a Filipino…maybe you mean naturalized Filipino citizen.
npongco, I’m not so sure about it, but used to be a broadcaster in manila before, so he said. but most I can make of him is he was born and grew up in the Philippines. But to be sure, you can ask Mike yourself, he is a very good fellow and I’m sure he’ll answer you’re curiosity. here Mike site if you want: http://mikeinmanila.wordpress.com/ and post what you found of him. thanksss
Thanks for Mike’s web. Strangely, he replied in Tagalog and said he doesn’t speak or write English. But, he said he speaks Japanese and Ilocano.