De Lima defies Senate, won’t bare Napoles list
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Janet Lim-Napoles (inset). INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she would not be budged into releasing the list of lawmakers who benefitted from the pork barrel scam even if it is under pain of contempt.
Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier said that the Senate could compel De Lima to disclose the names of the Senators who benefitted from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
De Lima was able to acquire the list after her visit with Janet Lim-Napoles. The Justice Chief said she met Napoles a day before the latter underwent a surgery. They talked for almost five hours and Napoles agreed to tell all and execute an affidavit.
“By law and the Constitution, yes, the Senate can compel me to disclose the list, under pain of contempt,” De Lima said.
“But I will appeal to them to wait for the proper time and give me enough space to discharge my mandated tasks with utmost responsibility,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.
Sandra Cam earlier revealed that there are 82 congressmen and 13 incumbent senators on the list. She sent a letter to De Lima to make public the list. But De Lima said the names in the list should be verified first by the National Bureau of Investigation.
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