MANILA, Philippines – Janet Lim-Napoles’ lawyer denied on Wednesday that her client owned yachts.
“Janet Napoles does not own any yacht at all,” lawyer Lorna Kapunan said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.
The radio station also said the Manila Yacht Club (MYC) texted them, saying Napoles did not own any unit there and was never a member of the organization.
MYC Vice Commodore Francisco Garcia said not a single yacht left on the dates mentioned by the authorities because of bad weather.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said they have no records on the sailing of yachts under the name of Napoles.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that they were closely monitoring islands near Mindanao and Indonesia after they received word that three yachts owned by Napoles had left the club.
During the interview, Kapunan warned media against libelous stories, mentioning the BI’s statement on Napoles’ alleged yachts.
“Quoting a source does not exempt you from libel charges,” she said.
Asked on whether she could still represent Napoles even if she has yet to contact her, Kapunan said, “Yes. Because regardless of where she is, she has legal rights.”
Janet Lim Napoles and Atty. Lorna Kapunan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Kapunan said she still did not know where Napoles was but has been urging her client to surrender.
“On air I keep saying ‘Janet if you are listening to us please surrender yourself because we have availed of legal remedies,’” Kapunan said.
She lamented how the government has been treating Napoles, referring to her as a “high-level fugitive.”
“The problem is, if you have Interpol, if you have nationwide alert, if you are now allowing citizens arrest, then there is word that she has a private army…What is to prevent people who want her killed to kill her, saying she resisted arrest?” Kapunan asked.
Napoles and her brother Reynald Lim are the subjects of a manhunt by authorities for serious illegal detention of whistleblower Benhur Luy.
Napoles is the alleged mastermind of the so-called P10 billion pork barrel scam that supposedly allowed fake non-government organizations to strike deals with legislators for the liquidation of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as “pork barrel”.
Related Stories:
Janet Napoles and the pork barrel scam