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MULTIMEDIA: One year after giving herself up, Napoles yet to give the whole truth
This was how lawyer Lorna Kapunan, the legal counsel of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, described the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind's intention to surrender after a warrant for her arrest was issued in August 2013.
While Napoles may have been sincere in giving herself up to the authorities at that time, events over the past year show she still wasn't ready to give Filipinos the whole truth about the multibillion-peso controversy that already resulted in three senators being thrown into detention.
While Napoles may have been sincere in giving herself up to the authorities at that time, events over the past year show she still wasn't ready to give Filipinos the whole truth about the multibillion-peso controversy that already resulted in three senators being thrown into detention.
More than a year later, Kapunan has quit and Napoles remains in jail, over several charges of graft, plunder and illegal detention.
This GMA News Online Special Report looks back at how Napoles spent her first year behind bars.
Napoles may first have gained notoriety for being the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam, but she was roped in on an entirely different rap. In 2012, Napoles allegedly detained her cousin and former employee, Benhur Luy, to stop him from squealing on the multibillion-peso scam.
"Warrants of arrest (were) issued this afternoon by Branch 150, RTC-Makati vs Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Reynald 'Jojo' Lim in the serious illegal detention case," Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in late August if 2013.
Napoles was then detained at the Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna.
Luy will go on to become the principal whistleblower and star witness in the case. While Napoles has been jailed, Luy now enjoys the benefits of the Witness Protection Program.
Barely two months into her legal problems, Napoles suffered a loss when her outspoken lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, quit. Curiously it was Justice Secretary Leila De Lima who broke the news. Like most Filipinos, however, De Lima said she was clueless over why Kapunan abandoned her client.
From holding opulent parties at the height of her alleged influence among lawmakers and officials of government line agencies, Napoles had to survive on more than 100 pesos a meal.
Napoles was not afforded special treatment in jail, in terms of food rations. Like the thousands of other incarcerated Filipinos, her food budget was limited. Pegged at P115 a meal, her food was described as adequate. Her meal the on her first night of detention? A healthy serving of menudo, rice, and a banana for dessert.
Just days into her imprisonment, Napoles complained of anxiety attacks and high blood pressure. She was claustrophobic due to her small cell.
But Napoles had bigger problems ahead of her. In the same month, the Office of the Ombudsman charged her with three counts of plunder and more counts of graft in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Barely two months into her legal problems, Napoles suffered a loss when her outspoken lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, quit. Curiously it was Justice Secretary Leila De Lima who broke the news. Like most Filipinos, however, De Lima said she was clueless over why Kapunan abandoned her client.
In November, Napoles travelled out of detention for the first time, to face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
“I invoke my right to self incrimination,” Napoles repeatedly said, when senators quizzed her on her involvement with the PDAF scam. The hearing revealed nothing new over the alleged scam, as Napoles remained tight-lipped throughout the entire session.
Days later, the Makati RTC denied Napoles’ bid for bail and provisional liberty, saying the evidence against her in the serious illegal detention case was strong.
"The prosecution was able to establish the existence of conspiracy between Janet Lim Napoles and [Reynald] Jojo Lim concerning the commission of the crime of serious illegal detention," said the state lawyer handling Napoles’ illegal detention case.
The alleged pork barrel scam mastermind received a reprieve in December, when the Philippine National Police allowed longer visiting hours for her during the Christmas season.
Napoles was not allowed to receive gifts during the season.
After a modest Christmas, Napoles celebrated her 50th birthday onJanuary 15 also without the extravagance that marked the parties she organized in the past, or at least those that were shown in the media after her name hit the headlines. There were no cakes and no VIP guests.
According to Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief information officer of the Philippine National Police, Napoles on her birthday had ham, egg and sinigang na baboy for breakfast, and paksiw na bangus for dinner.
In February, Napoles complained of having a cyst, and was eventually allowed to undergo a check up at the Camp Crame General Hospital. The cyst was found to be non-life threatening.
The same month, the PNP revealed that the government spent some P120,000 every time Napoles was moved from her detention facility in Laguna to Metro Manila and back.
In March, Napoles complained of excruciating pain emanating from her cyst. She then tearfully begged the Makati RTC on March 21 to be allow her to undergo surgery.
"Hirap na hirap na po ako, maawa po kayo sa akin. Hindi na ako tinatablan ng gamot. Ang tagal ko nang tinitiis ito. Alam niyo, ang laki-laki ng bukol ko dito. Ang sakit-sakit. Kung wala akong sakit, hindi ako makikiusap,” Napoles said in a hearing.
After that hearing, Napoles was rushed to the Ospital ng Makati when her pain did not subside. However, the businesswoman, used to state of the art facilities, was “turned off” by broken facilities at the OsMak, a government hospital.
Towards the end of the month, Napoles’ request to have surgery was granted. However, the Makati RTC denied Napoles’ request that surgery be done at her chosen hospital, St. Luke's Medical Center Global in Taguig City.
In a resolution, Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 said Napoles could undergo operation to remove her myoma uteri at the Ospital ng Makati, the very hospital she turned her nose up on for having substandard facilities.
Napoles’ surgery finally pushed through on April 23, after weeks of confinement. After the operation, her doctors said Napoles had to remain confined for at least three weeks, to recover after her uterus and both ovaries were removed.
During her temporary hospital arrest, Napoles’ assets were frozen after the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) filed a forefeiture case against her and several others.
While in the hospital, Napoles executed a sworn statement, which her lawyers submitted to Justice Secretary De Lima. The Senate Blue Ribbon then subpoenaed the affidavit, along with the so-called “Napolist,” which contained the names of the lawmakers Napoles transacted with.
Napoles was discharged from hospital the same month.
June was a busy month for Napoles, as the ball started rolling on the plunder and graft cases against her. Napoles was arraigned for two counts of plunder at the Sandiganbayan, with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, and Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
As in her illegal detention charge, Napoles entered a not guilty plea to in each of all the cases against her. Shortly after, Napoles asked the anti graft court for bail.
Meanwhile, Napoles’ lawyer revealed that the businesswoman—who was alleged to have stored bags of cash in her bedroom and even her bathtub—was nearly broke. She was said to have been getting discounts on her legal fees.
Napoles continued her almost weekly excursions to the Sandiganbayan in July.
She came face to face with Enrile for their arraignment, where Napoles again entered a not guilty plea.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the month, after nearly 11 months in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Napoles was ordered transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig. The Makati RTC did not object to the Sandiganbayan order to move the businesswoman.
Hearings for Napoles’ petition for bail continue at the Sandiganbayan to this day.
While Napoles cannot be released even if the three divisions of the Sandiganbayan grant her petitions for bail, since she has a separate illegal detention case at the Makati RTC, Napoles’ lawyers say that the granting of bail at the anti graft court will bolster their cases.
Meanwhile, whistleblowers have been presented by the prosecution at the Sandiganbayan. Napoles, however, has yet to face any of them.
—NB, GMA News
