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Palace fires consultant with alleged link to Napoles
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(Updated 2:25 p.m.) A Malacañang official on Monday confirmed that they have let go of one of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.'s consultants who is allegedly linked to fugitive Janet Lim-Napoles.
In a text message to GMA News Online, Assistant Secretary Jose Emmanuel David Eva III of the Office of the Executive Secretary confirmed his statement in a VERA Files report that Ochoa's consultant Brian Yamsuan has been fired.
“Mr. Brian Yamsuan was hired as a consultant because of his experience and expertise in communications, but it was agreed that the engagement would be discontinued due to conflicts of interest with his other consultancies,” Eva said in the report.
Asked to elaborate on the supposed "conflicts of interest," Eva did not respond.
But sources cited by the VERA Files report said President Benigno Aquino III ordered the firing after he discovered Yamsuan's connection to Napoles, the central figure in the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Yamsuan's camp would not give any statement on the matter.
At a press conference, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he didn't even know Yamsuan was working as Ochoa's consultant.
He, however, said that despite this alleged Palace connection, they are prepared to investigate everyone linked to the pork barrel scam.
"The President made a statement we're going to prosecute everyone. Tuloy 'yung prosecution kay Napoles. We're going after everyone," he said, reiterating that the President also does not know Napoles.
Yamsuan's camp would not give any statement on the matter.
At a press conference, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he didn't even know Yamsuan was working as Ochoa's consultant.
He, however, said that despite this alleged Palace connection, they are prepared to investigate everyone linked to the pork barrel scam.
"The President made a statement we're going to prosecute everyone. Tuloy 'yung prosecution kay Napoles. We're going after everyone," he said, reiterating that the President also does not know Napoles.
In its August 11 edition, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published a transcript of their interview with Napoles where she revealed that Yamsuan had helped her set the meeting with the newspaper.
"Sabi ko sa husband ni [pointing to PDI reporter Cathy Yamsuan], first time kong nakita siya si Ma’am Cathy. Sabi ko, Brian, may access ba para sa Inquirer. Para lang umapela ako bilang ina na sana bago isulat, kunin muna side namin," Napoles said during the interview. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ/KBK, GMA News
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