Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic bishop on Tuesday denounced the government’s supposedly special treatment given to Janet Lim-Napoles and asked why the alleged operator of the P10-billion pork barrel scam was being accorded a similar level of protection as ousted President Joseph Estrada and Moro rebel leader Nur Misuari when they were incarcerated.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also said that the government should not be distracted by giving Napoles VIP treatment in ensuring that the prosecution of all those involved in the alleged scam will not be slowed down.
“It’s so obvious that the treatment given to Napoles is very far from how a common prisoner is treated. That’s why we are asking, why? Why is she being protected so much? Why has she been given so much importance? She’s been elevated to [Estrada] and Misuari’s level,” Pabillo told reporters Tuesday.
“What is important in this issue is that the process must be fast-tracked because the longer it takes, the more complications will occur,” the prelate added.
He was also wary of plans to hold court hearings at Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna instead of at the Makati Regional Trial Court, saying doing so might compromise transparency.
“Is that a transparent move? If they will hold the proceedings there, will there be transparency?” asked Pabillo.
Bishop Efraim Tendero, national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, said that while it was understandable why the government was giving Napoles protection, it must not be done for personal interests.
“We understand where the special treatment [being given to Napoles] is coming from … since she is the [alleged] mastermind, she can be key to finding out the truth,” said Tendero at a forum hosted by the Catholic Media Network in Manila Tuesday.
“We see that she is being treated differently and we understand but what is important is that this should not be used for the interest of the few,” the bishop added.