Napoles hires new lawyers, seeks amendment to plunder raps motion

Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles' new lawyers, hired to defend her in the P183 million plunder case stemming from the pork barrel scam, on Tuesday sought to amend her motion for reconsideration (MR) on the Sandiganbayan’s denial of her bid to have the plunder charge dismissed.

By asking the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division to allow Napoles to file a supplement on her MR, her new lawyers, Rony Garay and Jacinto Garcia, Jr. of Garay Cruz and Associates, reversed the position of Napoles' previous counsel who declined to file such a supplement.

The prosecution opposed the move, arguing that Napoles should not be allowed to file a supplement just because she changed lawyers.

“Last July 8, your Honor, when Mr. [Jose "Jinggoy] Estrada filed a supplement to his MR [on denial of demurrer to evidence], the defense was asked if they will also file a supplement to the MR, and they said, none [from our part], your Honor. Having said that, there is no need to file this motion asking the court to allow them to file a supplement to the MR,” Assistant Special Prosecutor Jedd Boco told the anti-graft court, referring to one of Napoles' co-accused in the case, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

“There should be a finality in all of this, your Honor. Otherwise, this will just go on and on,” Boco added.

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega said that Napoles’ motion asking the court to allow a supplement to the MR needed to be submitted for resolution, although she did not mention when the ruling would be issued.

Arcega also asked Napoles' new counsel if they consulted their client’s previous lawyers on their move, to which they said they had not.

Napoles is accused of owning non-government entities to which the discretionary fund of lawmakers, the infamous Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel, were illegally funneled into to fund non-existent development projects. — DVM, GMA News