A ?resource person? in the P728-million fertilizer scam asked the Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus to compel the Senate to justify its action to detain him for contempt.

Jaime Leonzon Paule, the alleged bagman of the fertilizer project implementor Jocelyn ?Joc-Joc? Bolante, urged the high court to order the Blue Ribbon and Senate?s Sergeant-at-Arms retired Maj. General Jose Balajadia to free him from detention.

Bolante was linked with Paule by Undersecretary Belinda Gonzales who testified that in late 2002, she attended a meeting at a hotel in Makati City where both Bolante and Paule were present.

Last Feb. 4, the Senate Blue Ribbon approved the motion of Senator Panfilo Lacson to cite Paule and order his detention for three days.

The other day, the Senate?s arresting team went to Paule?s house in Antipolo, but he was at St. Luke?s Medical Center where he was seeking treatment for a ?long history of carotid blockage and other internal ailments.?

Paule through his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio claimed the committee?s contempt order ?was issued without due process,? and that ?in ruling on the falsity of petitioner?s testimony, respondents illegally encroached upon the exclusive constitutional domain of the judiciary.?

The Blue Ribbon proceeded against him ?under an erroneous concept and grave abuse exercise of its contempt power,? Paule said. Rey E. Requejo