Bishops urge Napoles to bare all about ‘pork’ scam in Senate inquiry

By: Jocelyn R. Uy - 11 years ago

Janet-Lim Napoles inside his cell in Fort Sto. Domingo CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PNP/PIO

MANILA, Philippines—While the Senate is thinking how Napoles can be compelled to tell all when she appears in an inquiry on Nov. 7, several Catholic bishops are urging the alleged chief operator of the P10-billion pork barrel scam to “expose the truth” for the sake of the common good.

Former Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said on Wednesday that Napoles must attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing and reveal everything she knew about the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a pork barrel.

“I urge her [to attend and talk] so that she can help bring to light the truth for the good of the country. She may be a heroine,” Iñiguez told reporters.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes also hoped that Napoles—who has been detained at a police training camp in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, since surrendering to President Aquino in late August in connection with the charge of kidnapping an aide who knew about the pork barrel scam—would provide the senators a complete testimony.

“She is already subpoenaed [so she must show up] and her testimony will ferret out the truth,” said Bastes in a text message.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the businesswoman should attend the hearing and expose her side of the truth “in order that justice may be served for the sake of the common good.”

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros also urged Napoles to disclose what she knew about the scam and reveal the names of those in power who dipped their hands in the pork barrel.

“Let her face the music and I hope she tells the truth. Let her name names because the Filipino people want to know where their taxes went,” said Oliveros.

A day after Senate President Franklin Drilon signed the subpoena for Napoles’ testimony, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III had asked the committee how it could make Napoles tell the truth and how she could be cited in contempt if she lied when she has already been detained all this time.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the blue ribbon panel, said she could invoke her constitutionally guaranteed right to protect herself from self-incrimination.