After weeks of anticipation, Napoles reveals next to nothing

Published November 7, 2013 7:41pm

(Updated 9:45 a.m., Nov. 8, 2013) After weeks of anticipation, Janet Lim-Napoles revealed next to nothing in the Senate hearing on Thursday, but blue ribbon committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III was satisfied just the same.

The businesswoman, said to be a central figure in the diversion of money from the Priority Development Assistance Fund, may not have given any explosive testimony, but Guingona said the probe was not a waste of time.

"We were able to show the stark contrast between Napoles' general denial and the whistleblowers' positive and detailed assertions," Guingona said in a press conference after the hearing.

Guingona said what is important is that the public was given a chance to hear the detained businesswoman's side.

"Satisfied ako (sa takbo ng hearing) dahil nakita ng taumbayan ang general denial versus assertions. Faced with that, who would you believe?" he said.

But for Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, one of three senators charged with plunder for their alleged involvement in the scam, the investigation seemed headed towards a "pre-ordained conclusion."

He said in a press statement that he supports the investigation to get to the bottom of the scam.

Enrile said, though, that "for some very members of the committee to use the Blue Ribbon hearing to make wild-eyed charges, baseless assumptions, and false accusations today converted the investigation into a parody of justice."

The minority leader maintained that he and his staff are innocent.

At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said: “It is unfortunate that today’s hearing failed to satisfy our people’s thirst for truth. We are determined to pursue vigorously the prosecution and punishment of all those involved in the theft of public funds.

“While we share the people’s clamor to know the unvarnished truth, we acknowledge the constitutional rights of those involved in the inquiry and we respect the processes of the Senate as an independent institution. We appeal to our bosses, the Filipino people, to remain vigilant and not to lose focus on our ultimate desire to attain justice,” Coloma added.

More hearings to come

Guingona said that Napoles was evasive while testifying,adding he believed she was lying at some points of the hearing. He said the committee will meet to discuss whether she should be charged for perjury.

Napoles, who has denied involvement in a scam to divert money from the Priority Development Assistance Fund into spurious foundations and non-existent projects, invoked her right against self-incrimination in response to some questions from senators.

"You don't have to let her (Napoles) talk for the truth to come out," Guingona said.

He added the blue ribbon committee, which has primary jurisdiction in investigations on corruption in government, will likely invite Napoles' husband, Jaime, to give more details on their coal business.

Napoles claimed that the family's wealth came from their coal business in Indonesia. She, however, refused to detail how their wealth grew.

Guingona said the committee will study whether they will summon Napoles to another hearing.

He said the committee will also evaluate whether it will invite the chiefs of staff of the senators allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam.

Whistleblower Benhur Luy also claimed seeing lawmakers or their chiefs of staff visit their office at the Discovery Suites. He also claimed personally delivering money to the government officials.

"Nakikita ko (yung) lawmakers at sinasabi sa akin ni madame [Napoles]. May pagkakataon [din] na inuutusan ako ni madame at ihahatid ko po sa bahay," Luy said.

Among the Senate personnel he met were Pauline Labayen from the Office of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Ruby Tuason from the office of Estrada and Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, and lawyer Richard Cambe, chief political adviser of Senator Bong Revilla.

Luy also read out his sworn statement detailing the PDAF allocations of lawmakers and how they are divided among them, based on financial records of Napoles' firm.

During the hearing, Napoles said that she pities the senators who were dragged into the issue.

“Nakaka-awa yung mga senador na nada-drag ang pangalan dito e hindi naman totoo," she said.

Asked by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano why she thinks the senators are innocent of the allegations despite claiming she has nothing to do with the pork barrel issue, Napoles said that was just her opinion.

Cayetano also revealed that a party-list group connected to Napoles had been implicated in the 2004 "Hello, Garci" poll fraud scandal. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/JDS/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: bantaykaban, janetliimnapoles, teofiistoguingonaiii