Drilon stands firm on decision to block Napoles Senate appearance

MANILA, Philippines – Janet Lim-Napoles will definitely not appear before the investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Janet Lim-Napoles and Senate President Franklin Drilon INQUIRER File Photo

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Monday that he will heed for now the advice of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales disallowing alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles from attending the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

“It was out of prudence and caution that I decided to defer to the advice and recommendation of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales not to require, at this time, Janet Lim-Napoles appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,” Drilon said in his speech during the Makati Business Club’s General Membership Meeting.

“The Ombudsman advised us to defer only ‘at this time’ not permanently, the appearance of Ms. Napoles in the Senate hearings,” he said.

Napoles is the alleged mastermind of the billion-peso pork barrel scam that siphoned money from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers through dummy non-government organizations (NGOs).

Whistle-blower Benhur Luy, who is a cousin and former employee of Napoles, testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that lawmakers received millions of pesos in kickbacks.

At least 38 people, including Napoles, Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile, senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., have been charged with plunder before the ombudsman by the Department of Justice.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that it was just the first batch of charges that they intend to file before the ombudsman.

Drilon said that he did not want to interfere with the ombudsman as it moves forward with the case.

“While my decision appears unpopular to media, and a public eager to see Napoles grilled by the Blue Ribbon Committee, I have decided on the side of caution. I would rather err on the side of prudence,” Drilon said.

“What is at stake here is the ability of the Office of the Ombudsman to prosecute the PDAF misuse cases against Napoles with dispatch and without delay,” he said.