Pnoy’s photo with Napoles authentic but no big deal- Malacañang

President Aquino had a photo taken with 23-year-old Jeane Napoles in Cebu at one of the functions to celebrate San Pedro Calungsod’s canonization on Nov. 30, 2012.

Malacañang confirmed this late yesterday, saying that Mr. Aquino had his picture taken with the youngest daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang surmised that Napoles was probably one of a dozen or so who had posed for pictures with the President at the time.

“There were hundreds of people there,” Carandang said. “It’s no big deal.”

The background identifies the area as the Shangri-la Mactan Resort in Lapu-Lapu City .

Carandang said he wasn’t sure whether the chance meeting occurred in a gathering before or after the Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at an open field in the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

“At that event, at least a dozen people had their pictures taken (with Mr. Aquino),” he said.

“But I can confirm that he was at a function” when it was taken, he added.

Asked if Janet and her spouse Jaime were also there, he said: “It’s possible. The mother and father could have been there,” he said. “But I didn’t see a picture (of the President) with Mrs. Napoles. There were lots of people. I didn’t see a picture that they were together, but for all you know (a picture has been taken).”

The picture was posted on the Instagram account of Jeane (@jeanenapoles). It had 59 likes and accompanied with a caption: “Ending the eventful month of November in Cebu. With Noynoy Aquino, President of the Philippines.”

Carandang was with Aquino in Malacañang when they learned of the picture late yesterday.

“To be exact, (a copy of the) picture was sent to (presidential spokesperson) Edwin Lacierda. I was in a meeting with the President, so the picture was sent to me,” Carandang said.

Asked if Mr. Aquino had seen the picture, Carandang said:

“I didn’t show to the President the picture. But after the meeting I gave it to the staff and I said, ‘can you show it to the President?’”

Carandang also hurriedly asked a staff to confirm its authenticity by checking the presidential archives for a similar copy.

“We checked (the picture archives)” and saw a picture with Jeane and the President. he said.

Said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte:

“I understand the photo was taken at an event last November in Cebu. She had her photo taken with the President, as did a dozen other people who lined up to have their photo taken with him.”