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Rotarians urge Bolante to come out and tell the truth

Posted by: Alecks P. Pabico | March 7, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Filed under: Governance, In the News, Investigative Reports

OFFICERS and members of the Rotary Club have issued open letters addressed to fellow Rotarian Jocelyn ‘JocJoc’ Bolante urging him to come out and tell the truth behind the fertilizer funds scam. A close friend of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and his fellow Makati Rotarian, Bolante was among those implicated by the Senate in the diversion of P728 million in DA funds for the 2004 election campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Bolante was named Department of Agriculture undersecretary for finance and administration shortly after Arroyo took over the presidency from Joseph Estrada in 2001. Despite repeated subpoenas for him to testify, Bolante snubbed the hearings conducted by the Senate.

The first letter was written by Harvey Keh, a member of the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights. The second letter came from members of the Rotary Club of Mapasan:

What Now Rotary? Is This Really the Truth?

March 1, 2006

Dear fellow Rotarians and Friends,

Greetings of peace to all of you!

I joined the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights here in the Philippines two years ago upon the invitation of PP Jess Birosel and then incumbent President Jess Cifra. Although I haven’t been active in my club and am contemplating on leaving Rotary, I cannot but help myself from asking this very institution on what is its stand on one of its more prominent members, Former Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Joc Joc Bolante who has refused to surface and face inquiry on the pending Fertilizer Scam that haunts him here in the Philippines. Bolante has time and again been spotted at the Rotary International headquarters in Illinois and in fact was even here in the Philippines when we played host to a Big Rotary International event at the Westin Philippine Plaza, but alas, he again evaded attempts to make him face the music and finally clear the Fertilizer Scam that has rocked the political stablity of this already unstable nation.

For those who may not know yet what Fertilizer Scam I am talking about, let me give you a brief background, just a few months before the last 2004 elections, over a billion pesos worth of “fertilizer” funds were released by the Department of Agriculture through then Usec. Bolante upon prodding from Malacanang Palace to Local Government Officials and Congressmen that were considered to be allies of the present administration. If you look at it only from this point of view, there seems to be nothing wrong with it however what is suspicious is the fact that highly-urban cities without any farms like Quezon City and Makati City received part of this Fertilizer Fund. At the same time, the timing of the release of this fund was also very suspicious since it was released just at the start of the Campaign period. If you would like to read more about this, you may refer to the website of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism: (click on this link — http://www.pcij.org/stories/2005/farmfunds.html)

This scandal has not been resolved up until now simply because the man who people say was on top of it, who also happens to be one proud Rotarian does not want to face the music and tell the Truth.

I do not intend to attack the Rotary as an institution, in fact, I am a firm believer of the 4-Way Test that it abides to. However, in cases such as these wherein one member is asked to let the Truth come out, will the Rotary community just sit down and do nothing? Will the Rotary International community just allow Mr. Bolante to usurp the Truth from the Filipino People? Finally, will the Rotary do nothing knowing that the fertilizer funds could have been used towards the betterment of the situation of the more than 30 million Filipinos who live with less than $ 2.00 a day? This is the challenge I throw at us Rotarians, if we are really for the Truth and indeed we believe in Service Above Self then we will all work together as one community towards really making the Truth come out and building a more Fair and Just Society for us and for our Children’s Future.

Sincerely,

Harvey S. Keh
Member, Rotary Club of Loyola Heights

P.S. If you are not a Rotarian, please forward this to a Rotarian you know and let us continue to fight and search for the Truth!

***

AN OPEN LETTER TO ROTARIAN JOCELYN “JOCJOC” BOLANTE

“Let it not be said that we did not do our responsibility to care for the Rotary and our country when the power to speak up and do something were in our hands…We await the truth to come from you!”

Dear PDG Bolante,

Over the past 100 years, Rotary International has been been involved in humanitarian work dealing with various socio-civic advocacies such as poverty and hunger, illiteracy, violence, and environmental degradation. As a result of this humanitarian work done throughout the century, the name Rotary has become synonymous with the words “volunteerism”, “socio-civic consciousness”, “humanitarian work”, and “leadership.”

The one constant theme that defines Rotary from all other socio-civic organizations is its commitment to service, as contained in the Rotary motto “service above self.” This service is defined by the high ethical standards embodied in the 4-way Rotary test: truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all.

It was because of these lofty ideals and values that we young Rotarians chose to become Rotarians. In doing so, we made a solemn commitment to uphold these ideals and values, and to protect all that Rotary stands for.

Our Club was chartered a few weeks after you wrote your Vision for The Philippine Rotary; and your patriotic essay was one of the early reading materials that affirmed us and our hopes as a new club during the first conferences that we attended for planning our activities. You ended that visions statement with a strong if “we as Rotarians shall move toward a coalition of forces to bring back the basic principles and tenets of Rotary into action”…the answer lies in our hands as Rotarians. It therefore pains us that you, a long-time Rotarian, a Past District Governor of Rotary District 3830 in the Philippines and now an esteemed Director of the Rotary International — have been allegedly involved in the controversy surrounding the “anomalous” disbursement of the Department of Agriculture Fertilizer Fund which was allegedly used to peddle influence and buy votes to ensure the election of a Presidency that is now accused of massive cheating.

You were given the opportunity to express the truth in scheduled Senate hearings, but you chose instead to have your time available for ROTARY MATTERS SUCH AS THE ROTARY INSTITUTE more than national interest. ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR GESTURES ARE EXPRESSION OF THE FOUR WAY TEST?

We, your fellow Rotarians, expect nothing less from you as one with such a lofty vision statement. The answer to the controversy surrounding the fertilizer fund of the Department of Agriculture lies in your hands. We have watched and waited for you to reveal what needs to be revealed for several months in disappointment. Your refusal to reveal the truth is, to us, irresponsible and cowardly. We believe that such a position has prejudiced not just Rotary but the entire Filipino people. Know, as we know, that your silence adds to our people’s suspicion and paranoia in the present administration. See, as we see, your accountability in this social unrest we have reached and whatever socio-economic/political divisions our country will face in the future. May you find no blood in your hands should violence erupt in our precarious state now.

As fellow Rotarians and as fellow Filipinos who care deeply about our country, we urge you then to step up to the challenge as you challenged every Rotarian in your vision statement. Do the right thing with no further delay and make that vision a shining moment in our lives as it becomes a mission accomplished by a heroic Rotarian. We beseech you to come forward and speak the truth, instead of skulking in the shadows. Do what is right and what is fair and beneficial to all.

We are at a critical juncture of our nation’s history, and what you choose to do or not do will forever be etched in the memory of young Rotarians such as ourselves. WE CHOOSE NOT TO FORGET! Let it not be said that we did not do our responsibility to care for the Rotary and our country when the power to speak up and do something were in our hands. Let it likewise not be said that we have been betrayed by our elders by directly violating the very first principle of Rotary — speaking and living out the TRUTH.

As one of our leading Statesmen, Jovito Salonga, said… “You can only unite a country based on TRUTH and JUSTICE. You cannot expect unity when there is no TRUTH”…

We await the truth to come from you!

Sincerely,

Signed
Members of the Rotary Club of Mapasan (the first ever club in the Rotary World organized by TRF Scholars Alumni)

Floro Francisco - President 2005-2006
Jun Bernad - Charter President
Sed Candelaria - Past President 2004-2005
Del Domingo - Past President 2003-2004
Oscar Bautista - Vice President and President Elect
Cristy Fuentes - Secretary
Miel Reyes - President Nominee 2007
Gina Resultan - President Nominee 2008
Irene Besido-Garcia
Belay Ambrosio
Nanah Herce
Vibien de Guzman
Mari Blardony
Iya Santiago
Susan Bautista
Dennis Maximo
Mike Magpily

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 7th, 2006 and is filed under Governance, In the News, Investigative Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

20 people have left comments

ROTARY CLUBS are institutions whereever
they are organized. Only in the Philippines
was it damaged beyond repair as an institution.

Filipino rotarians here and when abroad I will bet
will be hesitant to claim being a rotarian.
Ponsing Liongson should join the Pidals
in the Philippine Rotary’s Hall of notoriety.

jay seneca wrote on March 7, 2006 - 2:42 pm | Visit Link

At long last…

Siguro they are worth some commendation for bravery in challengin a fellow rotarian…

But the long silence by the organization itself… The long apathy…

Why???

I am tempted to consider that some “benevolent hand” had waved its magical wand in this development…

I hope the Rotary Club can convincingly answer the question — WHY???

lbrto wrote on March 7, 2006 - 4:24 pm | Visit Link

the FG himself is a rotarian. We have rotarian friends who campaigned for gma in the last election. some acted like as if gma is the last saviour of this forsaken country. ok lang daw sa kanila na mangdaya si gma basta huwag lang manalo si fpj. i was shocked these words were coming from roatarians who are expectd to carry the torch of truth, fairness and justice (ano na nga yung 4-way test nila?).

i voted for another candidate. though i may have been inclined to vote for gma on the issue of health.

fencesitter wrote on March 7, 2006 - 4:51 pm | Visit Link

which Rotary Club chapter is Mike Arroyo a member of and who are the other members of this chapter is currently serving this government or has done so in the past ???

bayonic wrote on March 7, 2006 - 10:07 pm | Visit Link

Sa tingin ko po naging tahimik ang rotarians sa umpisa dahil gusto nila na ang initiative na humarap sa katutuhanan ay dapat manggaling kay Bolante mismo.
But now, since walang plano si Bolante na humarap sa Senado at nahahalata nila na nakukumpromeso na ang organization nila. Dapat lang na manindigan na.
Nakalimutan yata ni Bolante na hindi taga-Malacanang ang namumuno sa Rotary International.
Kung may respeto pa si Bolante sa Rotary at sa kanyang sarili, he should resign from the organization, bago ang organization and magpa-alis sa kanya.

On the other hand, kung loyalty sa kaibigan ang pag-uusapan, 100% ang rating ni Bolante.

lokalokang matino wrote on March 7, 2006 - 10:54 pm | Visit Link

The truth will always come out sooner or later. I think there was some pressure exerted on the Rotarians.

Noemi wrote on March 8, 2006 - 12:49 am | Visit Link

This is off the topic but I read on the Philippine Daily Inquirer the following:

“In an eight-page resolution dated March 1, the special graft court denied government’s appeal to reverse its 2005 ruling dismissing for lack of evidence the case against Ilocos Norte Representative Imee Marcos, Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., Irene Marcos and her husband Gregorio Araneta III.”

Does this mean when Imelda dies that the ALLEGED billions of dollars are beyond recovery? This really makes the Rotarian/Fertilizer scam seem like chicken shiitake.

Oh, by the way, did anybody see the 20th Anniversary of EDSA online (Philippine Daily Inquirer) where Butz Aquino was interviewed? I think (not sure) he made a comment about pushing or putting someone else in front of him when the tanks started their engine. Also, he made a comment (not sure, I think) about blind people among the thousands in EDSA 1986 as to what they can do…in other words, useless?

Will someone view that Inquirer special and see if the above are true cuz I’m not sure.

ryebosco wrote on March 8, 2006 - 12:55 am | Visit Link

Big MIke’s fellow rotarians have been appointed to the juciest of juicy positions in government. Can anyone provide a list here? Baycas can you Google that for us?

tongue in, anew wrote on March 8, 2006 - 7:19 am | Visit Link

Too late the Hero. Just like Gloria who have just ordered her henchmen to investigate the issue? Regardless of the outcome, may maniniwala pa kaya? They are already having a hard time selling to the people that there was a coup attepmt.

bukolitos wrote on March 9, 2006 - 3:21 am | Visit Link

To my understanding Mr. Bollante is alleged to have orchestrated a massive diversion of funds for farmers’ fertilizer to his person and to political allies during the last election campaign. That he refused an “invitation” to testify in the senate hearing and now his friends are urging him to come forward to tell the “Truth” as a fellow Rotarian. To me this is akin to a fellow asking his fugitive friend in the old west to surrender and bring along a Rope with him to hang himself with. If this the way we go about bringing these “suspect” to justice then will have another “garci” case. and by the way we have not resolve the Pres. Estrada case yet. The Marcos hidden lots among the “few”.

naykika wrote on March 9, 2006 - 4:26 am | Visit Link

[...] But anyway, let me see if I get this right: it’s God’s plan that we have a corrupt, law-breaking, self-serving president. Yeah, ok, right. [...]

Barako Café » Blog Archive » It’s our fight wrote on March 9, 2006 - 1:34 pm | Visit Link

Does this mean when Imelda dies that the ALLEGED billions of dollars are beyond recovery? This really makes the Rotarian/Fertilizer scam seem like chicken shiitake.
– one chicken atta time rey.. i think mas relevant now yung fertilizer scam kasi fresh chicken pa to.. =)

penpenpen88 wrote on March 13, 2006 - 6:20 pm | Visit Link

and to the rotarians out there specifically to the chapter this rouge former agriculture official belongs to.. akin lang if you wanna save what little face your chapter has hav’ta expel the dude.. absence is evidence of guilt.. same as garci.. and like garci chumechempo lang yan na me ibang issung lalabas na masmalaki bago uuwi yan.. o baka di na umuwi..sabagay if i wer as guilty as he is bat pa ako uuwi di b? siguro naman nakinabang ako sa deal na yun.. nuf to set me for lyf..

penpenpen88 wrote on March 13, 2006 - 6:25 pm | Visit Link

Enough time has been accorded to Bolante, by this time Rotarians should seriously consider expulsion. The organization is already compromised. Remember every time he is invited to the hearings, his alibi is his previous commitment to the Rotary International.
However, according the RI headquarters, his presence there is not needed.

The above group is only a handfull of the Filipino rotarians, does it mean that majority of them still believe the innocense of Joc-Joc ?.
If that is so, What a joke !!!!

Pangungulit lang po, here’s Rotary Club 4 Way Test:

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

lokalokang matino wrote on March 14, 2006 - 11:22 am | Visit Link

LOKALOKANG MATINO…

may i reply…

the rotary four way test, the first two are not important to joc bolante. pinangatawanan niya lang yung second two…

3. WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? to answer it, yes! friends sila at in good terms ni gloria… tanong mo pa kay ignacio bunye at mike defensor!

4. WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED? kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan, i mean itanong yan? itanong mo uli kay gloria and her piggy hubby!

joc joc joc!

pinoy abroad wrote on March 15, 2006 - 3:42 am | Visit Link

pinoy abroad,

CORRECT KA DYAN PLUS 2006 POINTS !!!

I noticed nga this country is run by a MAGICIAN, TRICKSTERS, PUPPETs
AND COLLABORATORS.

JOC JOC JOC nga ba lahat ng nangyayari sa Pilipinas?

lokalokang matino wrote on March 15, 2006 - 10:43 am | Visit Link

[...] The report also found that it was former DA Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, a close friend of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who decided on the list of fertilizer fund recipients: 103 congressmen, 49 governors and 26 mayors. Bolante has repeatedly refused to testify at the Senate on the issue. Reports the past few days circulated that Bolante was in town, but Malacañang officials have denied them. [...]

INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories » What the COA didn’t say: Lawmakers behind NGOs in fertilizer funds scam wrote on April 12, 2006 - 3:16 pm | Visit Link

[...] Despite repeated subpoenas for him to testify, Bolante snubbed the hearings conducted by the Senate, arguing that he had to deal with his functions as director of Rotary International. The Senate subsequently cited him for contempt and issued a warrant for his arrest. At one point, some of his fellow Rotary Club officers and members were so aghast at his refusal to face the music and even wrote open letters to urge him to come out and tell the truth behind the fertilizer funds scam, but to no avail. [...]

INSIDE PCIJ: Stories behind our stories » Bolante finally falls, but not for fertilizer funds scam wrote on July 12, 2006 - 6:53 pm | Visit Link

[...] Scam and CA upholds decision to freeze Bolante’s bank accounts and the Arroyo Corruption wiki and Rotarians urge Bolante to come out and tell the truth (not to mention Jun Lozada weighing in, too). The Warrior Lawyer points out that besides Bolante, [...]

Current » The Fugitive wrote on October 27, 2008 - 6:29 pm | Visit Link

[...] Scam and CA upholds decision to freeze Bolante’s bank accounts and the Arroyo Corruption wiki and Rotarians urge Bolante to come out and tell the truth (not to mention Jun Lozada weighing in, too). The Warrior Lawyer points out that besides Bolante, [...]

Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Today’s Dose » The fugitive wrote on October 27, 2008 - 6:33 pm | Visit Link

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