Janet camp confident list won't be sanitized - Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and her family believe Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will not sanitize the list of lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scam.

“We have trust in Secretary de Lima. We believe in her objectivity. The list will not be sanitized,” said Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera.

The Napoles camp also denied the authenticity of several lists of senators and government officials reported in the media that supposedly comprise the personalities she has implicated in the misuse of the congressional pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in a “tell-all” affidavit the businesswoman submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Rivera said they believe that the lists coming out in media reports could be part of “black propaganda” employed by some quarters trying to stop the truth from coming out.

He stressed that Napoles only gave the list to De Lima and former senator and now Yolanda rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson.

For instance, a report in another newspaper yesterday that was supposedly based on two sources said that Napoles allegedly tagged in her list Budget Secretary Florencio Abad as her “tutor” in the scam and to whom she gave the codename “Straight.”

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Also in the list, according to that news report, is Senate President Franklin Drilon, who has just publicly denied any link to the pork barrel scam.

De Lima had confirmed that apart from Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., there were additional names mentioned by Napoles in her tell-all affidavit where she revealed the involvement of lawmakers in the fund anomaly.

Lacson told reporters that there were at least 12 senators in the list provided to him by the husband of Napoles, Jimmy, last month that formed part of a draft affidavit they prepared in relation to the pork barrel scam.

“We cannot confirm those lists coming from other sources. Only Secretary de Lima and Lacson have it. If they only mention few names, it’s obviously not the real list because the real one includes so many names that I could not even count,” Rivera told The STAR.

The lawyer warned that there could be some groups out to “spoil the search for truth.”

He said it would be best to just wait for the result of the validation being conducted by the DOJ.

Rivera also gave the same advice to groups opposing the possibility of Napoles becoming a state witness.

“First and foremost, let us examine the evidence being offered by Mrs. Napoles before we judge or decide on her qualification. Her testimony directly links all people involved – unlike the whistle-blowers who can only give limited information,” he appealed.

“I hope we all just wait for the release of her affidavit. We believe the Filipino people are interested in the truth that Mrs. Napoles decided to share. It would be unfair to the people and a disservice to the country if we don’t let her reveal everything,” the lawyer added.

He clarified that their camp has not yet reached the issue of immunity or plea bargain agreement in discussions with the DOJ.

Binay seeks fair trial

Vice President Jejomar Binay is hoping that Enrile, Estrada and Revilla are given a fair trial in court.

“I join them in their sentiments that they look forward to a fair trial and their constitutional rights would be aptly protected,” Binay said.

Binay said the release of the PDAF in 2010 and 2011 should also be revealed to the public.

“All these new revelations happened in the 1990s. It is where the revelation goes,” Binay said.

Binay said he is expecting that the DOJ will soon release Napoles’ deposition.

“I suppose they are going to disclose that sooner or later. I think there was a strong clamor on the part of media,” Binay said.

Sen. Grace Poe invoked yesterday public interest in pushing for the reopening of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee inquiry into the pork barrel scam amid renewed interest on what alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Napoles has to say.

Poe expressed her view that the ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan have the authority to decide whether or not Napoles should be considered as a state witness following her decision to spill the beans on those she dealt with in the misuse of PDAF of lawmakers.

Poe said it would be for the public good that the people will be able to hear what Napoles has to say about the pork barrel scam.

Poe contradicted the position of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, that the panel will wait for Napoles to finish her testimony before the DOJ before calling her to the Senate.

Poe also supported calls for the need to make public the names of the lawmakers and individuals linked by Napoles to the pork anomaly.

She also expressed her personal view that there is no need to review first Napoles’ affidavit before she is summoned anew to the Senate.

She added that it will be up to the people to determine the sincerity of Napoles in revealing the truth, which can be ascertained once she appears before the Senate.

Saying that the Blue Ribbon committee has opted to take the prudent course regarding the matter, Guingona said he will give the DOJ more time to allow Napoles to complete her affidavit and back her claims with evidence.

“We will wait for Secretary De Lima to finish documenting the supposed disclosure of Janet Lim-Napoles,” Guingona said.

Upon receipt of the affidavit of Napoles by the Blue Ribbon committee, Guingona said the panel has to evaluate the matter before making a final decision.

The Blue Ribbon panel had issued a preliminary report on the pork barrel inquiry last month, supporting the filing before the Office of the Ombudsman of plunder charges against Enrile, Estrada and Revilla.

Also on Thursday, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis Escudero raised skepticism over Napoles’ motive.

Drilon said he is all for the release of the supposed list of lawmakers Napoles has implicated in the pork barrel scam.

He reiterated, however, that when it is released, there should be substantial documentary evidence that will support these charges.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas yesterday said that he would pray that Napoles would have the courage to tell the truth.

Villegas said that he would be praying for Napoles that she would learn to put her trust in God.

“I will pray for her. I pray for her courage to fully trust God. Do not be afraid to tell the whole truth,” said Villegas.

He also hopes that Napoles returns to the government the money she stole.

Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) national director Bishop Efraim Tendero also urged Napoles to return the money.

“Tell the truth and do not protect anyone. Be ready to face the consequences of your misdeeds as you seek God’s justice, mercy and grace,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak) on Thursday afternoon submitted its medical report on the surgery conducted on Napoles to the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 where the case of illegal detention against her is now pending.

According to clerk of court Diosfa Valencia, the medical report cannot be made public as it is considered a medical record. With Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Mcairan, Mike Frialde

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