Senate turns down Napoles postponement plea

Image of Napoles’ letter to the Senate

MANILA, Philippines—A panel investigating the alleged P10 billion “pork barrel” scam immediately turned down on Tuesday Janet Lim-Napoles’ request to postpone her scheduled appearance in the chamber on Thursday.

“We regret to inform you that your request is denied. Please be informed that the said hearing will proceed as scheduled,” Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo, director general  of the Senate blue ribbon committee said in a letter to Napoles.

“Rest assured that the committee has made the necessary arrangements with the Public Attorney’s Office  to provide you with lawyers during the hearing,” Quimbo added.

The letter was  in response to Napoles’ request to temporarily postpone the hearing for lack of lawyers who would accompany her at the hearing.

Senator  Teofisto Guingona III,  chairman of the committee, echoed Quimbo’s letter in a separate statement issued  by his office.

“The Senate blue ribbon committee has decided to proceed with the hearing as originally scheduled on November 7, 2013,” Guingona said.

“To afford the protection of her (Napoles) constitutional rights, the Senate blue ribbon committee has made the necessary arrangements with the Public Attorney’s Office to provide Janet Lim-Napoles with lawyers during the said hearing,” the senator added.

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