The cases of Janet Lim Napoles before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan will most likely proceed first before the Philippines considers extraditing her to the United States (US), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday.
“It looks more likely that we have to terminate first the Sandigan cases. Because it’s already ongoing, it’s already on trial stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, he expressed doubts that Napoles would get away from the country’s jurisdiction if she would be extradited.
“I doubt it very much. It’s really more of what is our priority. Unahin muna natin yung nandito o ipahiram muna natin siya para sa kaso nila. I guess the answer there is pretty obvious,” he added.
Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, and five of her family members have been indicted for conspiring to funnel into the U.S. some $20 million in Philippine public funds obtained through an intricate bribery and fraud scheme.
READ: Napoles, 5 others, indicted for funneling $20M into US from PH
On Saturday, Guevarra said the Philippines would continue to cooperate with the U.S. in prosecuting Napoles and would allow a state witness against her to testify in the money-laundering case.
In the Philippines, Napoles has several plunder and graft and malversation cases pending before the Sandiganbayan. /vvp