Jocjoc now in custody of US immigration

WASHINGTON – Former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, tagged as the architect of an alleged P700-million fertilizer scam, is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending his removal from the United States, ICE spokeswoman Gail Montenegro said.

“As with all ICE detainees, Mr. Bolante has been afforded due process and has had multiple opportunities to have his case heard in the courts. He currently has a final order of deportation from a federal immigration judge,” Montenegro said in a statement issued on Wednesday night.

She declined to give any other details.

According to federal regulations, an order of deportation is final and subject to execution when the Board of Immigration Appeals enters an order of deportation on appeal without granting voluntary departure or other relief or when a federal district or appellate court affirms an administrative order of deportation in a petition for review or habeas corpus action.

In such a case, the order shall be executed no sooner than 72 hours after service of the decision.

Bolante was arrested on July 7, 2006 at the Los Angeles International Airport while trying to enter the United States with a visa he did not know had been revoked by the US Embassy in Manila. He had flown in from Seoul, South Korea.

He was initially held at the San Pedro detention center but was later transferred at his request to the Broadview immigration detention center west of Chicago where he is believed to have relatives.

He tried unsuccessfully to seek asylum in the United States to avoid going back to the Philippines where he is wanted by the Senate for questioning about various misdeeds during his stint as agriculture undersecretary, including plunder and misuse of public funds.

He is believed currently held at the Kenosha County Detention Center in Wisconsin, awaiting deportation.

But despite reports about Bolante’s forthcoming deportation, Bureau of Immigration Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro said as of 2 p.m. yesterday, he has not received any confirmation from the US government about Bolante’s arrival.

“So far, the BI has not received any communication from the US government regarding Jocjoc Bolante’s return,” he said.

But the BI official added that, “in the event that Bolante would be deported back to the Philippines, where he is a citizen, he would be allowed to enter the country because he is a Filipino.”

Since their agency has no knowledge of criminal charges filed against the former agriculture official, he would not be handcuffed when he arrives at the airport. - With Evelyn Macairan