Senate wants Napoles to face committee probe

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Senate blue ribbon committee will ask authorities to allow  Janet Lim-Napoles, who is detained for serious illegal detention,  to testify into  the alleged P10- billion  “pork barrel” scam, Senator  Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Tuesday.

Escudero, who initiated the investigation in the Senate, said he reiterated Monday with Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the committee,  his desire  to invite Napoles in the hearing.

“I told him my desire to invite Napoles, and  let the  court reject our request  but at  least  the Senate  should try to invite  her here,” he told reporters.

“They said they will make representations with the court   but I think the invitation will be sent to the PNP and the  PNP which has her custody will ask the permission of the court to bring  her here,” he said.

Escudero said Napoles, who allegedly masterminded the pork scam, has  no choice but to appear in the Senate  if the court itself will order her to do so.

Napoles, he said,  may invoke  her right to remain silent but only to some  questions  that   would implicate her.

Despite the charges filed against  Napoles and other personalities involved in the scam,  Escudero said the  Senate  should continue  with its own investigation, saying  it was the  only venue where people can  watch and  listen to the  pork  scam investigation.

He said the filing of charges in court should not prevent the Senate from pursuing its own  probe, citing previous inquiries done by the chamber even after cases were filed   in court like in the case of  former military comptroller  Carlos Garcia.

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