Abalos’ daughter admits selling jewelry to Napoles 

The daughter of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos on Tuesday confirmed that she sold some pieces of jewelry from Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam.

 

Abalos, however, said the jewelry pieces Napoles bought from her weren't the ones that appeared in the photos shown to GMA News last week by a former aide of the alleged scam mastermind.

 

She said the pieces bought by Napoles were less expensive than those shown in photos.

 

“Some of it were the jewelries that were returned by my ex-boyfriend. I did not have any use of it so I sold it, some of it,” Abalos said in an interview aired over GMA News' "24 Oras".

 

Abalos also clarified that Napoles became her client not because of any affiliation but because she used to work as a jewelry agent. Abalos said she met Napoles in an event.

 

“That was the time too (that) I had a big mortgage in the bank. Whatever hanap-buhay you can get on the side, I mean why not, wala naman sigurong masama na mag-ahente ng alahas,” Abalos said.

 

Abalos said Napoles paid for the jewelry pieces by installment.

 

“Hindi naman ito binayaran ng cash. Hulugan ito. I think it was even six months to pay or ten months to pay,” Abalos said.

 

“It was just a simple business deal. It was a legitimate business deal, I mean she did not swindle me, I mean hindi naman siguro masama iyon,” Abalos added.

 

Abalos said she did not bother to ask Napoles where she got the money to pay for the jewelry as she was aware that Napoles was a businesswoman.

 

Last Friday, a former aide of Napoles who refused to be identified in the report for security reasons, showed to GMA News photos of Napoles' alleged jewelry collection believed to be worth millions of pesos.

 

The digital files of pork barrel scam primary whistleblower Benhur Luy turned over to the Senate last week also showed that Napoles purchased jewelry pieces using money from fake non-government organizations (NGOs) where several lawmakers supposedly allocated their pork barrel funds.

 

In a September 2004 entry in Luy's Excel files, Napoles allegedly paid Abalos the amount of P794,000 for a piece of jewelry.

 

In October 12, 2004 entry, Napoles allegedly paid Abalos P264,666 for another piece.

In two entries both dated January 22, 2007, Napoles allegedly paid a certain Mary Jane De Guzman the amounts of P4.5 million and P1 million, also for jewelry.

 

In December 2005, Napoles also allegedly bought jewelry worth P1.7 million. -Elizabeth Marcelo/NB, GMA News