Napoles loses 2 appeals

Janet Lim-Napoles. (FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Janet Lim-Napoles lost her appeals before two divisions of the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the corruption charges against her in two cases.

One was dismissed by the antigraft court’s Fifth Division on July 19 over the cases implicating her in charges against Nasser Pangandaman, former agrarian reform secretary.

The other cases were rejected by the court’s Second Division on July 21 for the conspiracy charges involving Gondelina Amata, former president of National Livelihood and Development Corp., asset management division head Gregoria Buenaventura, and former Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Zenaida Ducut.

In both instances, the two divisions said Napoles’ arguments only rehashed her motion to quash, which have already been denied by the Supreme Court.

In the case involving Pangandaman, Napoles, then a businesswoman, was charged with using nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to divert the pork barrel of lawmakers.

The NGOs involved were Agricultura Para sa Magbubukid Foundation Inc., Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation Inc. Agri and Economic Program for Farmers Foundation Inc., Philippine Agri and Social Economic Development Foundation Inc., People’s Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc., Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. and Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc.

Napoles sought the dismissal of the cases because of the supposed failure of the prosecution to implead the NGOs in the criminal suits. Napoles was found guilty by the Sandiganbayan of plunder in 2018 and malversation of public funds in 2021.

—DEMPSEY REYES

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