Zubiri inhibits from Bolante probe

MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri inhibited himself from the fertilizer fund scam proceedings to ensure a fair investigation and branded as a “blatant lie” allegations that he was among the lawmakers who benefited from the fund.

Zubiri was the Bukidnon congressman at the time the alleged scam took place that involved the supposed diversion of P728 million in fertilizer funds to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 2004 campaign kitty.

"I condemn some acts in certain media outfits to besmirch my reputation and my name," Zubiri said at the start of the proceedings.

He said it was "blatant lie" to tag him a "conspirator in a plot to stifle the truth," referring to a newspaper editorial that supposedly described him as "trying to maneuver a friendly closure" into the fertilizer scam.

"That is a lie. I never approached neither one of you to ask you to slow down. I never filed any resolution, I never had written any letter to that effect...it is so unfair especially calling me a stooge. I am no one's stooge.

"All I ask is a little fair play," he added.

In contrast, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the blue ribbon committee that is investigating the case, refused to inhibit even after colleague Panfilo Lacson presented documents that showed his name as being among the beneficiaries.

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