Jeane Napoles. SCREENGRAB from Youtube video

MANILA, Philippines–The Court of Tax Appeals has lifted a warrant issued for the arrest of Jeane Catherine Napoles, daughter of pork barrel scam principal accused Janet Lim-Napoles.

Jeane personally appeared before the Tax Court during the hearing of her motion to lift and cancel the warrant.

The Tax Court had ordered her arrest after she failed to appear for her arraignment last month in her tax-evasion case before its third division.

In her urgent motion, the young Napoles said her absence during her arraignment “was not because of any intent to disrespect or disobey the directives, notices and procedures of the Honorable Court but solely because of the advice of her counsel, who believed that her presence was not needed considering that there were still pending issues for the resolution of the Honorable Court.”

Napoles is facing two counts of tax evasion before the Tax Court.

A lawyer of the Napoles family said Wednesday that Jeane would remain in the country to face her tax-evasion cases.

The tax court rescheduled the arraignment on May 27 at 1:30 p.m.

In a telephone interview, Napoles counsel Stephen David said Jeane had apologized for not attending the first arraignment.

David said they are still hoping that the tax court would eventually junk the case against Jeane for “lack of probable cause.”

“Ang kaso niya ay nonfiling of income tax return and nonpayment of taxes. Pero wala namang income at employers si Jeane. Wala dapat ang kasong ito (Her case involves the nonfiling of income tax returns and nonpayment of taxes. But she had no income or employers. This should not have been a case),” David said.

As for properties in America, the lawyer said her name was just listed as a trustee by her parents. “Regalo sa kanya ’yon dahil matalino siyang bata, valedictorian siya sa school (It was a gift because she is an intelligent child; she was valedictorian at her school),” the lawyer said.

According to David, Jeane would likely stay at their house in Taguig while the tax-evasion case is ongoing.–With Ben O. de Vera

Originally posted as of 2:55 PM | Wednesday, May 6, 2015

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