US court dismisses Bolante's habeas corpus petition anew

What's your next move Joc-joc Bolante?

US court dismisses Bolante's habeas corpus petition anew
09/21/2008
CHICAGO, Illinois - The attempt of former Philippine agriculture secretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante to shield himself from persecution was again junked by a US court.

GMANews.TV on Sunday learned that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee had dismissed the petition for a habeas corpus filed by Bolante last August 15.

Habeas corpus is a legal action by which an individual can seek relief from unlawful detention. Bolante has been detained at the Kenosha County Detention Center in Wisconsin for the last two years after fleeing the Philippines when the fertilizer scam broke out.

Bolante became controversial in the Philippines after he was alleged of being the “main architect" of the scam in the P728-million fertilizer fund that reportedly did not benefit poor farmers but went to the 2004 presidential campaign kitty of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Earlier, the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago turned down Bolante’s petition for review of his asylum claim. In the August 27 nine-page decision penned by Judge William J. Bauer, the court ruled that Bolante “cannot meet his burden of proof on his asylum claim, (thus) withholding of removal (deportation) claim must fail a fortiori." GMANews.TV