Drilon agrees to summon Napoles to Senate 'pork' probe

(Updated 5:33 p.m.) After weeks of refusal, Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday announced that he has agreed to sign the subpoena requiring Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, to appear in the Senate investigation on the issue.

"I have decided to sign the subpoena to require Janet Napoles to appear before the Senate blue ribbon committee," Drilon said in a privilege speech.

The move preempted a Senate caucus where senators are supposed to decide on whether or not to summon Napoles to the investigation.

Three senators—Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Bong Revilla—are currently facing plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for their supposed involvement in the alleged pork barrel scam, which was reportedly engineered by Napoles.

Before his announcement, Drilon lamented how his initial decision to heed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales' advice not to summon Napoles was "misconstrued" as an attempt for a "cover-up."

"I must lead in restoring the confidence in the Senate. I have always adhered with the rule of law. I am therefore appalled that there are talks of a cover-up. I have never been a part of any cover-up," he said.

Drilon also said that his decision was prompted by the widespread public outrage against the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds — an issue that has already led to the largest mass protest under the Aquino administration.

Drilon said his initial stand on the Napoles subpoena "created an opportunity for certain members of the opposition particularly those who seek to block our anti-corruption reforms, to conduct a media vilification campaign" against him and the Aquino administration.

Earlier this week, jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam accused Drilon of knowing Napoles well. The Senate President has earlier admitted to meeting Napoles in social gatherings, but denied transacting with her on public funds.

Immediately after Drilon's speech, Estrada stood up to express support for the Senate President's decision to summon Napoles.

"We ought to know the truth. If Mrs. Napoles will be summoned by the Senate and if she appears before the Senate blue ribbon committee, I hope she bares everything, she will tell the truth," Estrada said.

Revilla, meanwhile, has earlier said he favors Napoles' appearance in the Senate investigation on the supposed anomaly.

For his part, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, who heads the blue ribbon panel, explained that Napoles should seek permission from the court first before being able to testify in the congressional investigation.

"Kailangan may court permssion iyon dahil ang court ang may jurisdiction kay Napoles," Guingona said in a separate interview.

Napoles is currently detained in Laguna for a serious illegal detention case.

Guingona added that he will leave it to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the details on how Napoles can be transferred from her detention area to the Senate. He also reminded Napoles' camp that they cannot turn down the Senate subpoena.

Napoles is also currently facing plunder raps before the Office of the Ombudsman for her alleged involvement in the pork barrel and Malampaya Fund scams. She and her husband, Jamie, were also named respondents by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in a P61-million tax evasion complaint. — KBK, GMA New