At the closed-door hearing, the lawyers for Bolante produced a report from the US State Department, saying that the reason Bolante’s visa was being canceled because his situation is no longer in compliance with Immigration Nationalist Act “2214 (b),” which suggested that because of his connection with people living in the United States, like his relatives, he is now suspected of immigrating in the United States. The line of questioning from his lawyers also strayed on Philippine politics, when Bolante was asked to comment on the Philippine Senate Committee report on the fertilizer scam.

Bolante said all the allegations against him by the Philippine Senate Committee on the fertilizer scam are “politically motivated.” He added that he was even linked to the impeachment of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was accused in the Philippine House of Representatives of stealing her election last May 2004 based on the “Hello Garci” tapes.  Bolante said that when the impeachment of Arroyo was dismissed in the Lower House, he wondered why Senators Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. and Franklin Drilon questioned the decision of the House of Representatives. He accused the two senators of “usurping” the power of the House.  Bolante also said that the Senate has no power to issue a warrant of arrest against him. He said the findings against him by the Senate on the fertilizer scam “have no legal basis.”

In raising his application for political asylum for the first time, Mr. Bolante produced an affidavit from a retired Major General “Rodofo Escobar,” who said his life will be in danger if he returns to the Philippines..

Ms. Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN North American Bureau Chief, and Mr. Don Tagala, Chicago-based correspondent for The Filipino Channel (TFC), were asked to leave the premises of the court room when they were seen listening from outside the court room.  Filipino lawyer Harry Roque was also asked to leave the court premises after he was told that he was no longer welcome to testify. Mr. Roque, according to Chicago lawyer Mary Carmen Madrid-Crost, was earlier asked by the lawyers  from the Department of Homeland Security to testify in court, along with Sen. Ramon Magsaysay.  Madrid-Crost said that when Senator Magsaysay refused to show up in court, the DHS lawyers for the US government later “disinvited” Mr. Roque. But the notice of the DHS to withdraw its invitation from Mr. Roque came after Mr.  Roque bought his plane ticket.  It was Roque who asked Ms. Madrid-Crost to file the amicus curiae brief before Judge Kastivalis. But Judge Kastivalis has yet to rule whether to accept or reject the amicus curiae brief.  The brief of the amicus curiae asked the immigration court to immediately deport Bolante to the Philippines , where Bolante is facing charges in connection with his complicity in the 728-M pesos (US$14-M) fertilizer fund that bankrolled the election of President Arroyo last May 2004, citing Philippine Senate investigation reports.

This reporter witnessed three young men, wearing black suits, and a lady waiting outside the courtroom at about 2 p.m. after the court premises were cleared. When the four people stepped out of the Federal building housing the Immigration Court in the Federal building at 536 South Clark St. in Chicago , Illinois , Mr. Tagala, was able to elicit a reply from one of the young men that they were members of the Bolante family, while waiting for a taxi.

It was not yet known when the next deportation hearing will be scheduled. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)