Kiko: Napoles acquittal 'a bad sign' for PDAF cases

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday said that the acquittal of Janet Lim-Napoles in the serious illegal detention case against her is a “bad sign” in relation to the other cases she is facing over the multi-billion pork barrel scam.

In a statement, Pangilinan said the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision could hurt the testimony of Benhur Luy in the cases alleging Napoles' involvement in the misuse of priority development assistance funds (PDAF) of lawmakers.

“Masamang senyales ito dahil una, nangangahulugan na hindi pinaniniwalaan ng korte ang testimonya ni Benhur Luy na siya ring key witness sa mga PDAF cases, o mga kaso sa tinatawag na pork barrel. Paano na ang PDAF cases?” Pangilinan said.

In the decision dated May 5, the CA Twelfth Division granted Napoles’ appeal, resulting in the junking of the April 2015 ruling of a Makati court over the case filed against her by Luy, her former aide and relative.

The CA said the prosecution has not discharged its burden of proof in establishing the commission of the crime charged and in identifying Napoles as the "malefactor responsible" for the illegal detention.

The CA backed Napoles' claims, noting there was enough evidence to establish that Luy had sought spiritual retreat at the Bahay ni San Jose in Magallanes Village, Makati City.

'Breath away from freedom'

For her part, Senator Risa Hontiveros thinks Napoles “is just a breath away from freedom.”

“This (acquittal) sets into motion the possible release from prison of all those responsible for plundering the nation's coffers,” Hontiveros added.

Hontiveros said Napoles’ acquittal is another “deplorable” act under the Duterte administration, citing the acquittal of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of plunder charges, and the hero’s burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

“May I remind the Duterte administration that corruption and the failure to curb it are some of the decisive elements in the weakening of governments. The dangerous combination of authoritarianism and softness on corruption bodes ill for the strength and legacy of the administration,” she said.

Pangilinan chided Solicitor General Jose Calida for defending Napoles.

“Ang Solicitor General pa ng Pilipinas, ang opisyal na tagapagtanggol ng republika, ang nagsabi sa Court of Appeals na nagkamali ang Makati court sa pagpataw ng guilty verdict sa tinaguriang Pork-Barrel Queen. Paano na ang iba pang kaso ni Napoles? Bakit pinagtatanggol ng tagapagtanggol ng bayan ang Pork-Barrel Queen?” Pangilinan said.

In a manifestation, the Office of the Solicitor General earlier argued that “evidence presented does not support beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant committed the crime of serious illegal detention."

“P10 billion ang nawala sa kaban ng bayan, perang dapat sana’y napunta sa agrikultura, sa mga proyektong makikinabang ang magsasaka, pero napunta sa bank account niya at ng ilang mambabatas. Paano pa maibabalik ang perang ito?” Pangilinan said.

Napoles will remain in detention because she has pending plunder and graft cases before the Sandiganbayan in relation to the pork barrel scam. —JST, GMA News