Senators' staff members linked to 'pork' scam on leave, absent

Three staff members of senators linked to the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam were either on leave or absent on Wednesday, according to their colleagues.

Patrick Paroan, a member of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.'s legislative staff, said their chief political adviser, Richard Cambe, has been on leave for months now.

"He [Cambe] has been on leave. Matagal-tagal na, even before this issue came out," Paroan said.   

Cambe is one of the personalities identified by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as among those facing plunder charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

Other staff members of senators who were identified in the report were Gigi Reyes, former chief of staff of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile; Jose Antonio Evangelista, Enrile's deputy chief of staff; and Pauline Labayen, Senator Jinggoy Estrada's deputy chief of staff.

Estrada's office said Labayen "did not report for work," but did not explain her absence.

Lizette Nepomuceno, Enrile's media officer, said they "do not have any information" on Reyes' whereabouts "since she is not connected with the Senate office anymore."

Evangelista, who still works for Enrile, declined to face the media.

Two weeks ago, Commission on Audit chief Grace Pulido-Tan said Revilla, Enrile and Estrada gave portions of their pork barrel funds to non-government organizations (NGOs) linked to businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, a principal suspect in the scam.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer also reported on Wednesday that the three senators will be among those to be charged with plunder in relation to the supposed anomaly. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News