Napoles seeks postponement of Senate appearance

Image of Napoles’ letter to the Senate

MANILA, Philippines—Detained Janet Lim-Napoles has asked the Senate to postpone her scheduled appearance on Thursday in the chamber’s investigation into the P10 billion “pork barrel” scam, saying she has no lawyer who would accompany her.

Napoles made the request in a letter dated November 5 addressed to Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is investigating the allegation the businesswoman funneled taxpayers’ money to fake nongovernment organizations.

“As you well all know, my lawyer Atty. Lorna   Kapunan just recently resigned and I allowed her (to quit),” she said in Filipino.
“As a result  of this,  I have  no lawyer to  accompany me and  protect   may rights in the  hearing   in the Senate scheduled on  the 7^th  of November 2013,” she said.
“As an accused, it’s within my rights   to have a lawyer  who will defend  and  protect  my rights,” Napoles said.

At present, Napoles said she was doing everything to immediately get the legal services that would protect her rights when she testifies in the Senate.

“I have no intention  to defy  the Senate’s order  to  appear  despite my personal  view that  my presence will do no good in the said hearing,” she said.
“Nevertheless, I respectfully  beg for your understanding to postpone  the  hearing  on  Thursday because  of the reason I mentioned that   I have  no lawyer   who can assure that my rights would be protected,” she said.
Aside from Napoles, the whistle-blowers in the scam led by Benhur Luy were also invited to appear in the hearing.

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