BY DENNIS GADIL
SEN. Pia Cayetano yesterday warned Malacañang
against "suppressing the truth" over the suggestion of one of
its spokespersons that it would invoke executive privilege for
Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap in connection
with the reopening of the Senate probe on the P728-million
fertilizer fund scam.
"Malacañang should think twice before
invoking executive privilege or restraining agriculture
officials from appearing and telling the truth just to cover up
for Bolante’s grossly incredulous testimony," Cayetano said.
Cayetano said this supposed plot by
Malacañang to derail the probe was evident in last week’s
statement of deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo to
media about the possibility of Malacañang invoking executive
privilege to stop officials of the DA from testifying.
Cayetano said Fajardo should be fired for
even hinting about invoking executive privilege.
Cayetano said all official documents relating
to the fund should also be made available for scrutiny by the
Blue Ribbon panel.
"Where else can you see a public official
given so much power to disburse millions of government money,
but who doesn’t see the need to exercise a shred of
responsibility in ensuring how these funds are used or whoever
ends up with it?" she said.
Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Roxas II and
minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. have asked the Blue Ribbon
panel to summon Yap.
Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante, former agriculture
undersecretary for finance and tagged as the brains behind the
diversion of fertilizer funds to politicians close to President
Arroyo, told senators last Thursday that if there was anomaly in
the fertilizer program it should have not escaped the attention
of the DA undersecretary for operations, who at that time was
Yap.
Sen. Benigno Aquino III said Bolante was
lying when he claimed that his role was only to disburse funds
to regional field units of the DA.
"A memo from then Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo
gave Mr. Bolante specific instructions to assess, evaluate and
approve all requests for fund assistance under the program.
Clearly, this goes beyond the mere disbursement of funds that
Mr. Bolante insisted was his sole responsibility at the DA,"
Aquino said.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez
said DA officials led by Yap are free to share what they know
about on the fertilizer scam.
"As of now wala kaming natatanggap na balita na pipigilan
siya (Yap). Kung makakatulong si Secretary Yap sa usapin na ito,
malaya siyang magsabi o magsalaysay kung meron siyang alam sa
isyu na ito," he said. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
