Napoles submits ‘extensive’ affidavit with new names of lawmakers

By MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News

Published May 26, 2014 3:35pm

(Updated 4:45 p.m.) The camp of Janet Lim-Napoles on Monday afternoon turned over to the Department of Justice her completed and extended affidavit on the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam containing new names of senators and congressmen.

Napoles' lawyer Bruce Rivera arrived at the DOJ main office in Manila around 3 p.m. from the Ospital ng Makati to personally hand over the embattled businesswoman's affidavit.

"As promised to Sec. De Lima, we have already submitted the affidavit of Mrs. Napoles, the more complete and comprehensive one. And because she is asking as a prayer to be part of the Witness Protection Program, it is covered by the confidentiality rule," he said.

"At this point we are not at liberty to divulge any contents thereof," said Rivera, but revealed that the new affidavit was 30 pages long, describing it as "extensive and a tell-all."

Rivera also hinted that the affidavit contained a "narrative and a summary of the contents." He said that Napoles included a narrative about the people whose names appeared on the Napoles list earlier submitted to the Senate.

He added the new affidavit included new names of senators and members of the House of Representatives. The supposed irregularities detailed in the affidavit covered the years 2000 to 2009.

"Mrs. Napoles has been recalling everything and when she checked her records there were more that had transactions (with her)," Rivera said.

Rivera also said there is a possibility that this would not be Napoles' last affidavit on the pork barrel fund scam.

"In all honesty she has not been at home so hindi niya alam kung may records pa siyang iba na hindi na-check. So medyo hinahanap pa. So later on baka may mahanap pa," he said.

De Lima is set to submit the affidavit to the Senate blue ribbon committee in compliance to a subpoena issued earlier.

No pre-condition

Rivera said while their camp is against it, they would respect it if the Senate blue ribbon committee eventually decides to divulge the contents of he new affidavit to the public.

Rivera also denied that their camp has set a "pre-condition" of sparing her children from charges in exchange for her tell-all testimony.

"It was a conversation between Napoles and De Lima as mothers na siyempre ang isang nanay na nagwo-worry sa kanyang anak na sana 'wag nang anuhin ang anak ko. Pero as to the reason, I cannot tell you because it is like telling you the contents of the affidavit," said Rivera.

The lawyer said De Lima did not give any commitment, telling Napoles that only the Ombudsman has the final say on whether to press charges or not against her children.

"Dati na kaming humihiling ng immunity from suits. Umaasa kami doon pero huwag naman sabihing ginawa naming kondisyon ito. Kasi many people are saying mayroon ng done deal," Rivera said.

Rivera reiterated that his client is not the mastermind of the fund mess, saying: "We have affidavits and if you will notice you cannot work alone in the PDAF scam. There is a senator to give it, then there is an implementing agency to implement."

He added that Napoles may not be the "least guilty but she is not also the most guilty."

He also said the Ombudsman will be furnished a copy of the new affidavit.

Napoles is facing plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly orchestrating the pork barrel scam.

The Ombudsman has also recommended plunder charges against Senators Ramon Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly pocketing public funds from the supposed Napoles scam.

Napoles submitted the affidavit to the government as part of her application to be considered a state witness. —KG, GMA News

Tags: bantaykaban, porkbarrelscam, janetlimnapoles