Miriam doubts Lacson’s story on Napoles tell-all

(Updated 7:40 a.m. April 25) Why would the camp of alleged pork barrel scam Janet Lim-Napoles first approach a presidential assistant with a "very shadowy background" for a tell-all?

 

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago raised this question on Thursday as she expressed doubts on rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson's claim that he was handed evidence on the alleged pork barrel scam by Napoles' family members. 

 

“Lacson has no legal basis for whatever he thinks he is doing. Remember, he is not even a lawyer, but a policeman with a very shadowy background," Santiago said in a statement Thursday.

 

She added that Lacson's story is "so full of holes that it’s like a sieve.” 

 

"Why would Lacson come forward with a spurious document, one month after he claims that it was handed to him?” Santiago said.

 

Asked for comment on Santiago's statements, Lacson said, "The Napoles camp has already confirmed that they approached me last month and turned over to me some documents including a draft affidavit. I guess that should answer Sen. Santiago's allegation."

 

On Wednesday, Lacson revealed that he met last month with Napoles' husband, retired Marine Major Jaime Napoles, and their two children, where they presented pieces of evidence from the alleged scam mastermind.

 

Lacson said the pieces of evidence included a draft affidavit, copies of special release allotment orders (SARO) documenting pork barrel releases, and a flash drive containing an audio file of a "revealing" phone conversation.

 

‘Massive psywar operation’

 

Santiago further said that Lacson may be part of a "massive psywar operation" together with two personalities being implicated in the alleged scam: Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and his former chief of staff, Gigi Reyes.

 

“Enrile, 90, is facing suspension from office as senator, and imprisonment in a detention cell while facing trial. He is desperate to prevent the Ombudsman from filing the case against him in court,” Santiago said.

 

She added that Lacson may be acting as Enrile's "attack dog" to "forcibly turn public attention away from the criminal culpability of those charged with plunder."

 

Enrile and Reyes, along with Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, are currently facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly pocketing pork barrel funds from the supposed scam.

 

Santiago has been at odds with Lacson and Enrile since early last year.

 

During his Senate stint, Lacson engaged in a word war with Santiago, calling her a hypocrite and a "crusading crook." Santiago, in return, threatened to expose Lacson's sexuality. 

 

Late last year, Enrile and Santiago exchanged scathing privilege speeches on the Senate floor.

—KG/LBG, GMA News