Napoles’ surrender to Aquino doesn’t mean she’s influential—Roxas

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said Thursday the circumstances in the surrender of Janet Lim-Napoles to no less than President Benigno Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace doesn’t imply her being supposedly influential.

Roxas said the Office of the President received Napoles’ surrender feelers through her lawyer, Attorney Lorna Kapunan Wednesday evening.

Kapunan coursed the feeler through Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda whom she used to work with in a law firm.

The President was then informed of Napoles’ intention to surrender, and an operation was subsequently conducted as per President Aquino’s discretion.

“Hindi sya maimpluwensya. Ang importante, ang pangulo ay nakatanggap ng surrender feeler. Si Mrs. Napoles bilang isang possible witness, bilang isang hinahanap . . . nararapat lang na gawin ang lahat para maibalik sya ilalim ng batas (She is not influential. What’s important is he received a surrender feeler. Mrs. Napoles as a possible witness, as someone wanted by law….it’s just but right to do everything to bring her back in the arms of the law),” Roxas told reporters.

Roxas asked that if the President didn’t pay attention to this, what would the people say about the matter?

After a “brief” conversation between President Aquino and Napoles, Roxas said they then escorted Napoles to Camp Crame.

“Sa pangulo sya nag titiwala. Ginampanan naman ng pangulo ang trabaho niya (She trusts the President. The President is just doing his job),” Roxas said as he quoted Napoles as saying that she surrendered for fear of her life.

The secretary said it is the responsibility of authorities to ensure the safety of Napoles.

Roxas said Napoles was made to use a vacant room at the NHQ building at Camp Crame. Former PNP chief Avelino Razon, who also turned himself to authorities following an arrest warrant issued against him and several others for a different case, was transferred to PNP’s detention facility at the Custodial Center after he underwent the booking process.

Napoles was, likewise, made to undergo booking process when she arrived at Camp Crame.