Aquino: Napoles can’t be a state witness

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 11 years ago

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III is still not convinced that Janet Lim-Napoles should be a state witness, basing on her faulty memory alone.

“It’s like the joke I received…’Maalaala mo kaya?’ and she still can’t remember. So far it’s still like that,” Aquino said during an ambush interview at the 21st Travel Tour Expo at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The President was referring to Napoles’ appearance at a Senate hearing on November 7 where she either denied the accusations or said she couldn’t remember the details being asked of her.

Aquino said Napoles is also not volunteering any information so she can’t really be considered a witness.

The President also said Napoles could not be considered the least guilty, a requirement for state witnesses.

“We can say that the common link to all those supposedly involved, as far as one segment of the scam is involved, is Ms. Napoles. Is she the mastermind? It’s not yet clear but she is at the center of the many people linked (in the alleged scam),” he said.

Aquino said that if Napoles wants to become a witness, it is the Department of Justice that will determine if her testimony will help build the case.