Napoles claims she gave Cayetano, Escudero campaign funds

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles has claimed she personally met Senators Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano, on separate occasions, to give them campaign funds.

In her sworn statement, obtained by the Senate blue ribbon committee on Monday, Napoles said she personally gave money to Cayetano. The money was allegedly used during the last elections.

Napoles did not specify the amount, but said the transaction took place at Slice, a restaurant in Taguig City. The restaurant is owned by Cayetano's sister, Senator Pia Cayetano.

The controversial businesswoman also said that she met Escudero in 2010 through Rodolfo Plaza, who was Agusan del Sur representative at that time.

Napoles claimed she was convinced to fund Escudero's presidential bid during this meeting. Escudero, however, did not run for president in 2010.

Napoles also said she met with Escudero again months after the 2010 elections at Taste of LA restaurant in Quezon City.

The alleged pork barrel mastermind claimed she handed Escudero money for a project that never pushed through.

"Pinag-usapan namin ang mga proyektong na maaari niyang ibigay sa akin. Nag-abot ulit ako sa kanya ng pera ng hapong iyon, ngunit walang proyektong natuloy," Napoles said in her sworn statement.

Escudero has denied Napoles' allegations. "Not true po," he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

He earlier said that he met Napoles once,  but denied having transactions with her involving his pork barrel funds.

In her sworn statement, Napoles also tagged 18 past and incumbent senators as supposed recipients of pork barrel kickbacks. — JDS, GMA News