De Lima hopes Napoles will ‘tell all’, defends stay in Laguna jail

Benhur Luy, Sec. De Lima and Dennis Cunanan as resource persons for today’s senate hearing. KRISTINE SABILLO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Thursday said she was still hoping that alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles will “tell all.”

“We are still hoping that Mrs. Napoles would tell all. She’s probably the key to unlocking the whole truth,” De Lima told Senator Francis Escudero during the blue ribbon committee hearing.

The Secretary also disagreed with Escudero who said Napoles should be transferred to a regular jail.

“Hindi nyo ba naisip na pag linagay nyo sya sa regular na kulungan baka mapadali ang pag-amin nya (Don’t you realize that if we put her in a regular jail it might expedite our efforts to have her admit what she knows)?” Escudero asked.

But De Lima insisted Napoles should be secured amid the Senator pointing out that there is no threat to her life because she has yet to accuse others.

“Let’s see if she is willing to talk. Wag muna tayong magmadali ngayon (Let’s not hurry),” she said.

The Justice Secretary said that while Napoles’ detention in Fort Sto. Domingo in Laguna may cost the government more, the expense is only
secondary to their “universal aim” of securing her and making her cooperate with the government.

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