LIKE ANY ACCUSED Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged brains of the P10-billion pork barrel scam whose surrender to President Aquino in Malacañang raised eyebrows, had her mug shots taken in Camp Crame. She is accused of serious illegal detention of whistle-blower Benhur Luy, her former employee and relative. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines—Here’s Lacierda’s account, in a news briefing on Thursday, of what happened:
12:37 p.m.: Lacierda called Kapunan, whom he had worked with in the law firm of the late Sen. Raul Roco. Kapunan confirmed her statement to ANC.
“I have no direct communications but I have a way to my client. We would like to surrender. If at all, let me confirm with my client that we would like to surrender to the President,” Kapunan told Lacierda.
Why the President? Lacierda asked. “Because [he’s] the person that we trust.”
2 p.m.: Lacierda told the President about his conversations with Kapunan. A skeptical President retorted: “We have so many leads—there were leads of this and that—so this is just another lead.”
4:06 p.m.: Kapunan called back, telling Lacierda that her client was surrendering to the President. She had one request: that her safety be guaranteed because of “threats on her life.” Lacierda reported this to the President, who was then already talking with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa. The President instructed Roxas that as soon as she surrendered, she should be turned over to the Department of the Interior and Local Government or the PNP.
6:50 p.m.: Lacierda proceeded to Pasong Tamo in Makati City where he was told by Kapunan to meet at Whitespace, a multipurpose exhibition hall and events venue. There, he met with Kapunan and Napoles’ husband, former Marine Maj. Jimmy Napoles.
8:06 p.m.: The group went to Heritage Park, a cemetery near Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
9:08 p.m.: Two women approached their vehicle. Napoles was wearing a hoodie. A female companion was carrying her bag.
9:37 p.m.: Lacierda and the Napoles group went to Malacañang. The Napoles couple passed through security check. A doctor checked Napoles before she and Jimmy were ushered into the reception hall on the second floor of the Palace, where they met Mr. Aquino. Also in attendance were Roxas, Ochoa and Secretaries Jose Rene Almendras and Ricky Carandang. The meeting lasted 10 minutes. Napoles, who was not handcuffed, did not admit to any crime before the President. Kapunan did most of the talking for Napoles. Mr. Aquino then led the convoy that took Napoles to Camp Crame.
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