Alleged scam mastermind Napoles wears Pope Francis shirt to bail hearing

Though she will most likely not have a chance to meet Pope Francis, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles seemed to join in with Pinoys in welcoming the pontiff to the country. 

 

On Wednesday, Napoles, who is accused of conspiring with lawmakers to divert millions in pork barrel funds to bogus NGO's, attended her bail hearing wearing a yellow shirt printed with an image of the smiling Pope Francis. 

 

The Philippines will be welcoming Pope Francis on January 15 to 19, with his visit marked by a number of engagements, particularly meetings with the survivors of natural calamities like the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon Yolanda.

 

His five-day trip here will be his third in Asia since taking the helm of the Roman Catholic Church. 

 

Napoles, who is facing multiple graft and plunder charges, merely smiled when asked what the significance of her shirt bearing the face of Pope Francis is. 

 

But netizens have been quick to react to the image of Napoles in a pope Francis shirt, with some criticizing her for "taking Pope Francis' name in vain."

 

"Napoles dont use @Pontifex in Vain! Kaloka ka! #PDAFscam #Bantaykaban," tweeted one user, tagging Pope Francis' official Twitter account. 

 

Still, others saw Napoles' act as an "insult" to the Catholic Church. 

 

Napoles lawyer once famously claimed that his client is a very religious person, who prays up to two thousand rosaries a day, using a rosary she got from Pope John Paul II, who is now a saint. —NB, GMA News