Janet Lim-Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The former head of an implementing agency that was allegedly used by some legislators to funnel their “pork barrel” funds to questionable non-government organizations (NGOs) admitted meeting Janet Lim-Napoles twice.
Under intense questioning by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, former president of National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) Alan Javellana admitted that he met Napoles at the Discovery Suites in Mandaluyong City four years ago.
Javellana was head of NABCOR from 2007 to 2009, the same period when the alleged abuses in the use of legislators’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) known as “pork barrel” were allegedly committed and which was reported by the Commission on Audit recently.
“Twice kami nag meet” Javellana told the blue ribbon committee, investigating the alleged “pork barrel” scam of which Napoles was tagged as the mastermind.
“Bakit sa Discovery?” Guingona asked.
“I was invited to go there,” said Javellana, adding that he and Napoles only had coffee in the hotel.
Asked again by Guingona what they discussed during their meetings, Javellana said: “Wala kaming pinag usapan na PDAF. I briefed her about NABCOR.
Their second meeting, Javelllana said, was just a follow up of what they had previously discussed.
Related Stories:
Witness names 5 lawmakers who endorsed ‘pork’ to NGOs
Agri, Budget execs take stand as Senate resumes ‘pork’ probe
Janet Napoles and the pork barrel scam