REPLAY: Livestream: Napoles at Senate pork scam hearing (Nov. 7, 2013)napo

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Miriam grills Napoles: Tell the truth now before they kill you

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago questions alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. Senate-PRIB

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday warned businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles that she may be ordered assassinated as the lawmaker tried to convince her to reveal the truth behind the pork barrel scam.

During the sixth hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Santiago advised Napoles to divulge her knowledge now on the multi-billion peso racket before the officials embroiled into the controversy have her killed.

"This is a friendly tip from a lawyer," Santiago told Napoles. "Tell the truth before the senators affected will have you assassinated."

The feisty senator asked Napoles to confirm if Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are the persons in the alleged scam referred to as "Tanda," "Sexy," and "Pogi."

But Napoles only invoked her right against self-incrimination.

Santiago fired several questions to Napoles, but the suspected pork barrel scam operator either denied having knowledge or repeatedly invoked her right against self-incrimination.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: Napoles and the three senators are facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for pocketing lawmakers' pork barrel funds that were supposedly routed to the fake organizations she allegedly set up.

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Napoles at Senate Thursday: Will she talk?

THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND Relatives and employees flank Jimmy and Janet Napoles during the celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary in Cebu City on Jan. 28, 2007. Now, five persons in the photo have turned state witnesses in the plunder case against Janet Lim-Napoles in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. From left (first row) are Vanessa Emman, Lillian Español, Charlie Tulidod, Nova Dulay, Evelyn de Leon, Merlina Suñas, Janet and Jimmy, Benhur Luy, Roy Bongalo, Henry Soliman and Simplicio Gumafelix. At the back (from left) are Mylene Encarnacion, Baby Sula, Ronald Lim, Rod Galay, John Lim, Reynald Lim, Nathaniel Tan (deceased), Fernando Ramirez and Vincent Enerlan. The gowns were all made by Eddie Baddeo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The last thing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima expects of Janet Lim-Napoles when she appears Thursday before the Senate blue ribbon committee is to spill the beans on the P10-billion pork barrel scam the detained businesswoman allegedly engineered.

“If there is no offer of immunity, it means she’s opening herself to self-incrimination,” De Lima told reporters after speaking at the First Fraud Conference at Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City.

Expected to attend the hearing are 12 senators, including Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who said she would leave her sickbed “to confront Janet Napoles today to show that she cannot take advantage of the right against self-incrimination.”

While the Senate has the inherent power to compel the attendance of witnesses in its investigations in aid of legislation, De Lima pointed out that they could always invoke their right against self-incrimination. She said senators could not force Napoles to answer their questions.

“The only way is to offer immunity but a host of questions will arise,” De Lima said. “There’s nothing much that we can expect in terms of substance in her testimony,” she said in an earlier TV interview with ANC’s Karen Davila.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, the blue ribbon committee chair, earlier said a grant of immunity would depend on Napoles’ response to the questioning.

Security has been tightened for the appearance of the 49-year-old Napoles, who is detained at the Philippine National Police antiterrorist school in Sto. Domingo Camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna province, in connection with a kidnapping case involving her former employee Benhur Luy.

Luy’s rescue by the National Bureau of Investigation on March 22 led to revelations that Napoles channeled some P10 billion into ghost projects from the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and P900 million from the Malampaya Fund intended for impoverished farmers and victims of devastating storms in 2009.

Napoles has been named in a plunder complaint in the Office of the Ombudsman in the PDAF racket, along with Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. who have denied any wrongdoing. A similar charge has been leveled against her in the Malampaya Fund scam.

During Thursday’s hearing, Napoles will face for the first time since her detention Luy and 10 other former employees who have turned state witnesses and have executed damning statements against her.

In a last-minute bid to delay the hearing, Napoles on Tuesday requested a postponement, saying that she still has to hire a lawyer to represent her in the plunder complaints lodged by the NBI and the Department of Justice in the Office of the Ombudsman and assist her in her Senate testimony.

But Guingona has turned down the request and instead directed the office of the public attorney to provide her a lawyer normally assisting pauper litigants.

Napoles’ high profile lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, last week resigned as her counsel purportedly over differences with the businesswoman’s longtime lawyer, Alfredo Villamor. However, Villamor said he was hired to handle only the illegal detention case, not to assist her in her plunder case or her Senate appearance.

“Based on what I know of her, she will not say anything, unless she gets something in return,” Luy told the Inquirer, echoing De Lima’s concerns.

Public lawyers

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Napoles could refuse the services of the public attorney’s office, citing a Senate rule on inquiries in aid of legislation: “At every hearing, public or executive, every witness shall be accorded the right of having a counsel of his own choice.”

He also cited Section 12 of the Bill of Rights that provides: “Any person under investigation for the commission of an offense shall have right … to have competent and independent counsel preferably of his own choice…”

“But even if she turns down the PAO lawyers, she can’t ignore the hearing tomorrow because she has already been subpoenaed by the Senate,” he said.

Drilon said Napoles could still be questioned even without a lawyer. “It will be up to her whether she will answer or not,” he said.

Earlier, Drilon expressed reluctance at summoning Napoles to the hearing, citing the Ombudsman’s inquiry. He sought the opinion of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to support his position, but relented after Guingona insisted that the Senate’s power to call witnesses cannot be overruled by the Ombudsman.

Drilon has insisted he does not know Napoles, but a photograph showing him with the businesswoman in a party has been widely publicized and has gone viral on social media. He has also acknowledged that Rene Villa, appointed in January as chair of the Local Water Utilities Administration, was his political protégé. Villa was a Napoles lawyer before he joined the Aquino administration.

“I expect her to keep quiet,” said Sen. Sergio Osmeña III. “The Senate has only a few options here. It’s really up to the star witness and her lawyers. If the lawyer’s advice is for her not to talk at this time, there’s not much we can do about it.”

Osmeña recalled the Senate inquiry in 2003 into the so-called Jose Pidal bank account—a corruption case involving the laundering of P321 million in election campaign funds—when then First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and his brother Ignacio evaded questions by citing the right to remain silent and the right to privacy.

“So, we’re hoping against hope that she will enlighten the nation not only the Senate but the entire nation on the arrangements that were made that cheated the people of this country out of tens of billions of pesos,” Osmeña said.

“But whether this will be the venue, whether the Senate or the trial before the Sandiganbayan will be the proper venue, that’s something that she and her lawyers can decide,” Osmeña added.

Like most of his colleagues, Osmeña wants Napoles to tell the committee “the whole story.”

“When did this start, how much money passed through you and who are the legislators involved and who are your coconspirators in masterminding this,” Osmeña said in recounting the information he wants to get from Napoles.

Partial immunity

Asked what options remain left for the Senate to get Napoles to speak, Osmeña told reporters of his proposal to give her immunity.

“Explore the possibility of partial immunity. We don’t have too many legal weapons at our disposal. She certainly doesn’t have to lie. All she has to do is keep quiet and under the Constitution, you have the right to remain silent,” Osmeña said.

A partial immunity, Osmeña said, could mean Napoles’ testimony in the Senate would not be used as evidence against her in her plunder cases.

Sen. Francis Escudero told reporters citing Napoles for contempt for clamming up or lying might not mean much.

“Since she already has a commitment order from the court, even if she’s cited for contempt, she will still be detained in Sta. Rosa,” Escudero said.

Guingona earlier said that while Napoles could invoke her right to remain silent she could not do so on every question.

“It can’t be that even if the question is what’s your name, she’ll invoke her right against self-incrimination,” he said.

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Janet Napoles still killin it.

So yeah I'm about to sleep just lying on my bed and watching TV and Janet Napoles luckily pop out the screen. A news update about her notorious scam. How she made it happen and the whistleblowers who are ready to spoil everything. ABS-CBN made a frisky background check of Janet's earlier years in mindanao. She obviously had a simple lifestyle before And many people testified like her neighbors, classmates and other relatives. While Janet's principal back when she's in elementary stated that she is a bad example to the students of her alma mater. Sad to say a random whistleblower spoil that she had withdrawed everything in her 400 plus bank accounts that came to a point the banks were out of cash for the day. What the phuck right? Rot in.. Idk

Now her lawyer differentiate VIP treatment and Special treatment? Are you trying to make fun of yourself? Or you are trying to get us fooled?

VIP people are Special it is on the same spotlight. So what are you trying to say...

Xoxo cb

posted from Bloggeroid

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Janet Napoles surrenders

#Hashtag SELFIE

MANILA (9th UPDATE) - Fugitive businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles surrendered to President Aquino Wednesday night just hours after a P10 million bounty was put up for information leading to her arrest.

Napoles, who is wanted for serious illegal detention of pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy, gave herself up to President Benigno Aquino after which she was turned over to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a statement, said Napoles surrendered to Aquino.

"At 9:37 p.m on August 28, Janet Napoles surrendered to President Aquino. Napoles is wanted on charges of serious illegal detention arising from the alleged kidnapping of Benhur Luy," Lacierda said.

"The President turned her over to the custody of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Philippine National Police Director-General Alan Purisima for processing and booking," he added.

Napoles' lawyer Lorna Kapunan, in an interview with radio dzMM Wednesday night, said Napoles surrendered as she feared for her safety following the P10-million reward offered by the government for her arrest.

She has questioned the bounty, saying it would have gotten Napoles killed.

She said Napoles' brother Reynald Lim, who is also wanted for serious illegal detention in connection with the Luy case, will also surrender to authorities soon.

Kapunan: Trust Aquino

Kapunan said she advised the Napoles family to trust Aquino.

"(Napoles' family) asked me what was the best option, and I said, 'We have to trust in someone, and I think (that's) the President," she said.

She said she was with Napoles after she surrendered.

“We directly surrendered to the President and we were assured that she will be given due process of law,” she told dzMM.

Kapunan denied having been in constant communication with Napoles.

"The last time we talked to her was the day the warrant of arrest was issued," she said.

She declined to give details on Napoles' surrender. "Huwag na natin pag-usapan 'yung logistics, with due respect to the President."

Kapunan she doesn't know where Napoles stayed before she surrendered. "We don't know where she came from."

Napoles is now under heavy guard at Camp Crame before being possibly brought to the NBI Thursday.

Surrender feelers to Lacierda

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in press briefing after Napoles' surrender, said the businesswoman sent surrender feelers to Lacierda.

Roxas said the President called him up to work on Napoles's surrender. She was fetched from an undisclosed location and brought to Malacañang before Aquino accompanied her to Camp Crame to be detained.

"Ang punto 'di ba hinahanap siya ng buong sambayanan? Mahalaga na ma-secure siya para malaman natin ang katotohanan," he said.

Roxas said the reward on Napoles is now invalid because of her surrender but the bounty on her brother stays.

He said says Napoles underwent a health checkup and Aquino assured her of her safety.

"Si Napoles, bilang isang possible witness at ang laki ng anomalya, karapat-dapat na gawin ang lahat (to take her into custody)," he said.

Roxas said Napoles was served her arrest warrent, booked, and had her mugshots and fingerprints taken.

Napoles has been implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel scam and other alleged irregularities such as the fertilizer fund scam and the Malampaya fund mess.

A Makati Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for Napoles and her brother's arrest two weeks ago, August 14, but she opted to hide.

Napoles to be state witness?

Roxas, in an interview on dzMM early Thursday morning, said the government is not ruling out possibility of Napoles becoming a state witness.

"Isang avenue ito na bukas sa pamahalaan, kung may kontribusyon sa impormasyon at ebidensya si Napoles," he said.

He insisted however, that no deals were made for Napoles' surrender.

He said Napoles did not discuss the alleged threats to her life in her 15-minute conversation with President Aquino.

" Ang napag-usapan lang kanina ay 'yung kaalaman niya na may banta sa kanyang buhay at ang kanyang appeal na (mabigyan ng seguridad)," he said.

Roxas said he understands Napoles' fears.

'Ledger of transactions'

"Kung totoo iyung sinasabi ng mga whistleblower na may ledger, ikaw mangangamba ka rin," he said, amid allegations by pork barrel scam whistleblowers that Napoles hasdocuments showing her cash transactions with lawmakers involved in the anomaly. 

"Hindi ko alam kung red book iyan o black book. Hindi na kami dumating diyan," Roxas said.

Levito Baligod, lawyer of scam whistleblower Luy, earlier urged Napoles to surrender for her own safety.

"Iyung pagtatago niya ay nagdadagdag ng panganib sa buhay niya," he said. "Dahil meron ho kasing libro na hawak si Ginang Napoles na kung saan, nandoon iyung mga transaksiyon o mga napagkasunduan niya na sistema o sharing scheme with legislators."

Baligod said lawmakers involved in the scam do not want their names to come out in public.

"Hindi ako magtataka na iyung mga pulitiko na ito, ay ang magtatangkang hanapin si Ginang Napoles at kung maari huwag na siyang lumantad o kaya medyo mabibigay ng panganib sa buhay niya," he added.

"Mayroon pong hawak si Ginang Napoles, halimbawa, iyung cash vouchers po. Nandoon iyung mga pirma ng mga legislators. Meron din pirma iyung mga chiefs of staff o representatives ng mga legislators na tumanggap ng pera mula kay Ginang Napoles," he said.

On Wednesday morning, Aquino said Napoles should face the charges against her first before the government can consider turning her into a state witness against those involved in the pork barrel scam.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, meanwhile, said there are conditions to become a state witness, including being the least guilty in a case.

"Sa ngayon hindi pa namin 'yan sineseryosong kino-consider but we cannot really rule out that possibility. There is always that possibility pero hindi pa ho namin talaga 'yan kino-consider." 

Investigators are targeting to file the first batch of cases in two weeks against Napoles, and possibly including lawmakers.

De Lima said the perpetrators of the pork barrel scam may face plunder charges but that it would still be subject to "further evaluation" by NBI's legal team review by the Office of the Ombudsman

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