Senators dismayed over Napoles ‘evasiveness’

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles answer queries during the Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation Thursday. RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Thursday expressed disappointment over Janet Lim-Napoles’ “evasiveness” when she faced the Senate on Thursday and repeatedly invoked her right against self-incrimination.

“It seems like you have a selective memory,” said Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the P10 billion “pork barrel” scam, allegedly masterminded by Napoles.

“There seems to be evasiveness,” Guingona said.

Senator Francis Escudero also wondered why Napoles initially wanted to have an executive hearing with the committee when she would only invoke her right against self-incrimination to many of the questions of the senators.

But Napoles said it was his lawyer, provided by the Public Attorney’s Office, who advised her to request for the executive session.

It was neophyte Senator JV Ejercito who openly expressed disappointment over how Napoles answered the questions thrown at her by his colleagues.

Ejercito said he prepared a long list of questions for Napoles but expressed doubts whether he would be able to get answers from the businesswoman.

Another neophyte Senator, Grace Poe, also noted that even Napoles did not sound convinced with her own statements before the committee.

“If you will be given the opportunity to be state witness, could you maybe say more about what’s going on right now?” Poe asked Napoles in Filipino.

“Wala naman pong scam, kaya wala po akong karapatang maging state witness [There is no scam so I don’t have the right to be state witness],” Napoles said.

And when Poe asked if she had any regrets, Napoles took a long pause, which prompted the senator to say: “Ah sige, baka wala naman kayong masyadong pinagsisihan [Okay, there might be nothing that you regret much].”